Parashat Eikev

Parashat Eikev
Av 23, 5772 ~ Aug 11, 2012
by Susan Somerville

Parshat Eikev "follows on the heels" of V'Etchanan, the parashah most intimately connected with G-dliness via both the declaration of the Shema and the first verse of the V'Ahavtah, and also, the reiteration of the Ten Utterances (the Ten Commandments). Midrashically speaking, when we heard the Bat Kol (Voice of HaShem) at Har Sinai, "we were blown away." as in fainting. (Well, that happened after the first two Commandments. Yet, we regained our senses shortly afterwards, thank G-d!) Besides the very first of the Ten Utterances, I would think that it would have been easiest to have remembered the declaratory Shema. But there are people in Israel who do not even know what The Shema - or the utterances for that matter - are.

A reliable friend told me about a survey that was taken in Israel amongst the secular Jews: They were asked to recite the opening declaration of The Shema. Almost 60% of those people surveyed could not do so and/or did not know what The Shema was. My friend found this result so astounding that he conducted his own mini-survey in Berkeley. He questioned a former kibbutznik who said that he never learned about The Shema. My friend also queried two different Israeli women who were his family's guests at two different occasions. One woman knew the first two words, and the other woman said that she had heard The Shema when she was young but that she had forgotten it. Her parents, who were also guests at that meal, remembered The Shema from their youth. However, they could not agree on the order of "HaShem" and "Kelokainu." If this is the situation with Israeli Jews, just imagination how much more problematic the situation is in the US, where the numbers of assimilated Jews keeps increasing! 

What a sad commentary! How can any of us live a day without proclaiming the absolute Oneness of HaShem? Our Neshamas require that we connect to Him and to every other Jew. For me, there is such power in this profound commandment, that I am left with an emptiness if I miss the opportunity - even once in awhile.

I think that we are a tremendously privileged people to have G-dliness bestowed upon us as a daily gift. Through the Shema, HaShem hears our voices and we "hear each other's voices," though not in the ordinary use of the word, to hear. For though we write these words on our hearts, (Which words? All of the words of the Shema, including the three verses of the V'Ahavtah.) they actually enter our hearts with repetition, helping us to become better Jews and a better people. Rashi said that they have a "freshness" when said each day. They give us understanding, and their essence takes on a fresh meaning, making them "beloved" to us. They have a uniting force through the proclamation of Oneness. On top of this, we are reminded to scrupulously observe HaShem's laws and decrees, which also bind us to Him and to each other.

One thing that I find fascinating is the requirement "V'Ahavtah..." (...to Love your G-d...). The question is always asked: "How can G-d command us to love Him?" I think there is an answer to this question. Loving Him is a binding force. It promotes our cleaving to Him, which is what He desires from us; and it promotes the longevity of Klal Yisrael (all Israel). Think about the fact that we are the oldest civilization/people on earth. All other civilizations have folded; except, the Chinese people, who are also ancient, but not as old as we are. (According to Wikipedia, they are celebrating their 4,710^th year at the most, depending on the epoch that they are using. We can trace history back 5,772 years.) We are commanded to be at the highest level on the spectrum of positive outlook and practice. Furthermore, Rashi points out that we are to serve HaShem with all of our heart, which is prayer. To me, it's an amazing Torah blueprint for life. But it is only possible if we "hearken" to HaShem's commandments; and this conditional aspect of how we are to conduct ourselves and the benefits that are reaped as a result of this supreme conduct are emphasized in the second verse of the V'Ahavtah. Interestingly, though, in the third verse, which is not in Parashat Eikev, we are admonished not to chase after our eyes and our hearts. (This topic would make for a fascinating few shiurrim, (classes) as some other time.)

In concluding this mini D'var Torah, I want to add that there is another aspect to the power of The Shema. "V'Shinantem L'Vanaicha..." How many of you remember your parents at your bedside when you were young, telling you that because "G-d is One," we have "to say Shema Israel before going to sleep?" Now, you are doing that for your children, and some of us sit by our grandchildren, following in the same tradition. It stuck with us! To reiterate, we are privileged!