Parashat Eikev
Rabbi Boaz Tomsky
Eight
years! I can't believe it's been eight years since my wedding. It
feels like it was just yesterday when I was standing at my ufruf,
getting pelted with rock hard candies. My friends were clearly
aiming for my Borsalino hat, as it nearly flew off my head more than
once.
It
was later that day when I turned to my parents and marveled over
their commitment to one another for so many years. I stared in
amazement, wondering, how exactly did they do it? What steps should
I take in my upcoming marriage, to reach their amazing milestones
and accomplishments?
To
answer these questions, I needed to look no further than this week's
Parsha. Moshe turned to the Jewish nation and said, "What does
HaShem ask of you but to fear Him!" This seems to imply that fearing
G-d is an easy task to accomplish. The Talmud responds (Brachot 33B)
that for Moshe, this indeed was a simple thing. The Gemara proceeded
to cite a parable. A person with a large vessel envisions it as
though it were small. Another individual who lacks a vessel
considers even the smallest vessel as enormous.
Rav
Shmuel Eliezer HaLevi Adels (1555-1632), better known as the
Maharsha, questions the logic of this Talmudic piece. The difficulty
with the Gemara's answer, as cited by the Maharsha, is that Moshe
was speaking to the B'nei Yisroel. Although fearing G-d may be easy
for Moshe, it remains incredibly difficult for everyone else!
Furthermore, why does the Talmud feel compelled to cite a parable?
What is this coming to add?
Furthermore,
we derive from the aforementioned verse, Hakol Biday Shamayim Chutz
MiYirat Shamayim. Many things in our lives are already predetermined
but whether one is righteous or wicked, that is totally up to the
individual and their freewill. This concept is a very significant
element of our faith. Why then, is this fundamental principle not
introduced beforehand in the Torah? What is its connection to the
message of Parshat Ekev?
A
distant relative of mine provided an answer, which indirectly
addressed all of these difficulties. Some of you may have heard of
him. His name is Richard Simmons. During a recent interview, he was
asked, "How is it possible to instill hope and encouragement for
someone who needs to lose hundreds of pounds? What's your secret?"
He answered, "Don't tell them to lose hundreds of pounds. Instead,
make smaller, more realistic goals. Focus on one meal at a time, one
day at a time. Then before you know it, days become weeks, weeks
become months and months become years."
This
is certainly an effective way to accomplish huge, seemingly
unobtainable goals. I take this advice every time I am riding my
bicycle and approach a steep hill. I don't look up. Instead I look
down at my front tire. This is the message. Focus on the moment, not
just the big picture. Otherwise, it could become too overwhelming
and appear out of reach.
Harold
B. Melchart once said, "Live your life each day as you would climb a
mountain. An occasional glance toward the summit keeps the goal in
mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new
vantage point. Climb slowly, steadily, enjoying each passing moment;
and the view from the summit will serve as a fitting climax for the
journey."
This
is what Moshe is teaching about fear of HaShem. He isn't talking
about himself. He is addressing the nation. Of course it is
difficult. Fearing G-d is no simple feat. But how does one begin to
approach Yirat HaShem? One needs to view its small parts and
aspects, to be capable of overcoming these obstacles. Take small
steps in the right direction. You can't do it all right away. You
have to learn to crawl first.
The
parable is addressing this very point. To acquire a large vessel, we
need to view it as if it were small. Look at the pieces of the
puzzle and put them together, one at a time. How about the
individual with no vessel? Where did he go wrong? His mistake was
that he viewed everything as too big and too difficult to
accomplish. Such people give up right away. Their lens focuses only
on the big picture and not on the process and steps to reach their
goals.
This
message is deliberately taught here, in Parshat Ekev. The portion
opens with the instructions to adhere to the small mitzvoth that one
would trample upon with their eikev, heel. The message of our Parsha
is to do the small things and when you turn around you'll realize
that you've climbed a mountain.
First Published August 7, 2004
for National Council of Young Israel Weekly Divrei Torah
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