B"H

Thursday, Menachem Av 21, 5776 / August 25, 2016 - Hakhel year

In the beginning of this week's Parsha, Aikev, Moshe tells the people of Israel, "V'haya Aikev Tishma'un" - "And it shall be because you will listen to the commandments of G-d and you will keep and do them that G-d your G-d will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. And He will love you and bless you and multiply you… And G-d will take away from you all sickness; and all the evil diseases of Egypt He will not put upon you..."

Throughout this Parsha, in his parting words to his people before his passing, Moshe reminds them to adhere to the words of the Torah and to observe G-d's commandments. He informs them that their success in the Promised Land, which they are about to enter, depends on their commitment and observance of G-d's will, for then they will merit G-d's blessings.

Our sages explain that the word "Aikev" can also be translated as "heel."

Our sages explain that the Torah used the term "heel" in connection with the observance of the mitzvot to emphasize that one should be very careful to observe even the mitzvot which people step over them with their heel; i.e. mitzvot which people may deem them unimportant.

In Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) our Talmudic sages tell us, "Be careful to perform a minor mitzvah just as a major one, for you do not know the reward for each mitzvah." Each of the 613 mitzvot is G-d given and as such we cannot measure which mitzvot are "more" or "less" significant.

The Talmudic sages give the following parable to explain why G-d didn't specify the exact reward for each mitzvah. A king hired workers to plant trees and attend to them.  He told the workers that each tree had its price, which he guaranteed to pay. However, the king didn't disclose the different prices for the various trees. He said to himself, "If I tell them the exact reward for each of the trees, they will all plant the trees that will earn them the most. If I do not disclose the reward for each tree, the workers will plant different trees and the orchard will be beautiful." 

The same is with mitzvot. If G-d would have revealed the reward for each of the mitzvot, everyone would perform only the mitzvot which bring the greatest reward and ignore the rest. 

However, the Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai says that from two mitzvot; honoring ones parents, and sending away the mother bird before taking its young, for which G-d did reveal their reward, one can understand the great reward for all mitzvot.

Honoring parents is considered one of the most important mitzvot and may involve much personal effort to perform. Sending away the mother bird is considered one of the easiest mitzvot to perform. Yet, the Torah tells us that the reward for both of these mitzvot is long life. "This teaches us," says Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, "that the reward for performing all mitzvot is very great."

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Wednesday, Menachem Av 20, 5776 / August 24, 2016 - Hakhel year

As mentioned yesterday, this week’s Parsha, Aikev, like the entire Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim) are Moshe's parting words to the Jewish people before his death, after 40 years of leadership.

The Book of Deuteronomy, which is the fifth and last Book of the Torah, covers the last of five weeks of Moshe’s life. Moshe as a true shepherd, who cared for his people as they were about to enter into the Promised Land, reminds them of their past sins and tells them that if they want to live in peace in the land, they shouldn’t repeat their previous mistakes and adhere to G-d’s commandments.

Moshe tells them, “Beware lest you forget G-d your G-d, in not keeping His commandments, and His ordinances, and His statutes, which I command you this day. Lest when you have eaten and are satisfied and you built good houses and dwell therein, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied. Then your heart may be lifted up, and you will forget G-d your G-d Who brought you out from the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage…And you will say in your heart: ‘My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember G-d your G-d, for it is He that gives you the power to get wealth…”

A Chassid once came to his Rebbe for advice. “Rebbe,” he began, “there is a business for sale and I would like to buy it. I think I can be very successful with it. I need your advice and blessings.” He told the Rebbe all the details of the business.

“But, what if this problem comes up,” asked the Rebbe, pointing out a certain problem he may encounter. The Chassid thought for a while and said, “Then I will do this and this.”

“And what if this problem comes up,” the Rebbe continued, specifying another potential problem. “In that case I will have to do this and this..” The Rebbe mentioned a few more problems which may happen and the Chassid, who had his business plan very well worked out, told the Rebbe, what he would do. The Rebbe said, “I don’t think this business is for you.”

Then came another Chassid to the Rebbe and asked if he should buy the same business. The Rebbe asked him the exact same questions as he did the first Chassid. To each of the Rebbe’s questions he too, had an answer. But he prefaced his replies each time, “with G-d’s help… With G-d’s help I will do this and this..” The Rebbe told him to invest in the business and gave his blessings.

The first Chassid came to the Rebbe and asked: “Why did you tell the second one to buy the business and not me?”

Replied the Rebbe: “When I pointed out the potential problems you may encounter, you answered that you were going to do this and this. I knew that it was too much for you to solve the problems. But the second one told me that he was going to solve the problems with G-d’s help. With a partner like that.. I knew that no problem was beyond solving… Thus I told him to buy the business…

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Tuesday, Menachem Av 19, 5776 / August 23, 2016 - Hakhel year

This week’s Parsha, Aikev, records Moshe's words of guidance to the Jewish people before his death. 

Moshe reminds the Jewish people that when they will keep G-d’s commandments, G-d will fulfill His promises to them. He also tells them that all their trials and tribulations, during their forty years in the desert, were like to a father punishing his son when he goes astray. It was out of G-d’s love that He does whatever necessary to make them go in the right path so that they would observe His commandments.

Moshe says to them, “Now Israel, what does G-d your G-d demand of you? Only to fear G-d, your G-d; to follow all His ways; to love Him; to serve G-d your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul.”

The mitzvah of reciting the Grace-after-Meals is also found in this Parsha, “And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless the L-rd your G-d for the good land which He had given you."

Q. Moshe tells the Jewish people that loving G-d and serving Him with all your heart and soul and performing all the commandments is easy. How so? 

A.It all depends how we look at it. Our sages tell us that Torah and mitzvot are like gold and diamonds. If we have that attitude, then the more mitzvot we observe, the more we benefit and the wealthier we become spiritually.

Our sages teach us in Pirkei Avot: “The Holy One blessed be He, wished to make the people of Israel meritorious; therefore He gave them Torah and mitzvot in abundance.”

It’s like the two people walking on the road on a very hot day and each of them carrying a heavy load.  One was carrying rocks and the other diamonds. They were both sweating and bent over with their heavy load. As they were walking, the one carrying the rocks saw more rocks, but he was too tired and didn’t even bother to pick them up. But when the one carrying the diamonds saw more diamonds, although his load wasn’t any lighter, he was so happy to add more and more diamonds to his load!

It is the same with Torah and mitzvot. It all depends how we view them. If we see them as rocks, then they do become heavy and burdensome after a while.  But if we value them as diamonds, then the more the better. Their value makes all the effort worthwhile.

Q. The Grace-after-Meals consists of four blessings. Who instituted these four blessings?

A.  Mosheinstituted the first blessing. This was instituted when the Jewish people received the manna in the desert. Joshua established the second blessing, upon entering the Land of Israel. King David and King Solomon established the third blessing. The fourth blessing was instituted after the destruction of the Second Temple.   

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY