B"H

Monday, Menachem Av 22, 5784 / August 26, 2024

In Parshat Aikev, we read this past Shabbat, Moshe reminds the Jewish people over and over how important it is for them to observe all the commandments.

Moshe places special emphasis on those mitzvot which one may consider as “minor” and not important (“Would G-d really care if I did them or not”), Moshe uses the expression, “mitzvot which people throw under their heel and step over them,” that these mitzvot are also important.

The name of the Parsha, Aikev, means “heel.” It emphasizes the importance of the heel mitzvot that they too are not, “heel mitzvot” but “holy” mitzvot, as they too came from G-d.

Our sages, in Pirkei Avot, tell us, "A person must be equally careful with a light mitzvah just as with a strict mitzvah, for we do not know the reward for mitzvot.” Human understanding of the reasons for the mitzvot is very limited. It may be that the seemingly “light” mitzvot in our mind may in fact be very important from G-d’s perspective. Thus, we have to be careful with the observance of all the mitzvot.

In the Parsha, Moshe explains that even the hardships and tests that G-d put them through their forty years in the desert, were for their benefit: "And you shall consider in your heart that just as a man reproaches his son, so G-d chastises you. And you shall keep the commandments of G-d to walk in His ways and to fear him."

Q.  What is the meaning of, "Just as a man reproaches his son so G-d chastises you"?

A.  A father who wishes to teach his child to walk, will begin by walking together with the child and hold his hand. Then he will slowly move away from the child, leaving the child on his own. The child will then take a step toward his father and the father will retreat a bit further so that the child will take a few more steps on his own. The father will repeat this process in order to get the child to walk greater and greater distances.

To the child it may seem that the father is moving away and ignoring him, yet the father does this out of love and care for he knows that the child's growth and development depends on this.

The same is with the righteous. At times it may seem that G-d is ignoring them, yet, in truth, it is like the father moving away from his child. It is a learning processfor the benefit of the righteous.

This is what the Torah means with, "Just as a man reproaches his son so G-d chastises you."  A person will not reprimand another person’s child. A father chastises his child out of his love and caring for his child to set him on the right path and for his growth.  So too, the tests which G-d gives us should be taken as proof that He cares for us and considers us His children and His responsibility.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW

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