פרשת עקב

ByGrowTorah Education

GrowTorah Parsha Garden Lessons

This article was written by Yael Stochel, summer inchworm 2019

GrowTorah Core Value: Stewarding the Earth, Incubating Emunah

Parshat Ekev highlights both the natural bounty of Eretz Israel and our reliance on Hashem to ensure its success. The lessons of appreciation: for the land and its native fruit, for our food, and for Hashem, can apply to us and our gardens. How do we understand Hashem's role in our weather, our food, our garden, and our lives?

Lesson Title: Shivat HaMinim

דברים ח׳:ז׳-ט׳

(ז) כִּ֚י ה' אֱלֹקֶ֔יךָ מְבִֽיאֲךָ֖ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ טוֹבָ֑ה אֶ֚רֶץ נַ֣חֲלֵי מָ֔יִם עֲיָנֹת֙ וּתְהֹמֹ֔ת יֹצְאִ֥ים בַּבִּקְעָ֖ה וּבָהָֽר׃ (ח) אֶ֤רֶץ חִטָּה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֔ה וְגֶ֥פֶן וּתְאֵנָ֖ה וְרִמּ֑וֹן אֶֽרֶץ־זֵ֥ית שֶׁ֖מֶן וּדְבָֽשׁ׃ (ט) אֶ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹ֤א בְמִסְכֵּנֻת֙ תֹּֽאכַל־בָּ֣הּ לֶ֔חֶם לֹֽא־תֶחְסַ֥ר כֹּ֖ל בָּ֑הּ אֶ֚רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲבָנֶ֣יהָ בַרְזֶ֔ל וּמֵהֲרָרֶ֖יהָ תַּחְצֹ֥ב נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃

Deuteronomy 8:7-9

(7) For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill; (8) a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey; (9) a land where you may eat food without stint, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and from whose hills you can mine copper.

משנה ביכורים א׳:ג׳

אֵין מְבִיאִין בִּכּוּרִים חוּץ מִשִּׁבְעַת הַמִּינִים. לֹא מִתְּמָרִים שֶׁבֶּהָרִים, וְלֹא מִפֵּרוֹת שֶׁבָּעֲמָקִים, וְלֹא מִזֵּיתֵי שֶׁמֶן שֶׁאֵינָם מִן הַמֻּבְחָר. אֵין מְבִיאִין בִּכּוּרִים קֹדֶם לָעֲצֶרֶת. אַנְשֵׁי הַר צְבוֹעִים הֵבִיאוּ בִכּוּרֵיהֶם קֹדֶם לָעֲצֶרֶת, וְלֹא קִבְּלוּ מֵהֶם, מִפְּנֵי הַכָּתוּב שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה (שמות כג) וְחַג הַקָּצִיר בִּכּוּרֵי מַעֲשֶׂיךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּזְרַע בַּשָּׂדֶה:

Mishnah Bikkurim 1:3

Bikkurim are brought only from the seven species. Not from dates grown on hills, nor from [the other species] grown in the valley, nor from olives that are not choice. Bikkurim are not to be brought before Shavuot. The people from Mt. Zevoim brought bikkurim prior to Atzeret (Shavuot), but they did not accept from them, on for it is written in the Torah: “And the festival of the harvest, the first-fruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field” (Exodus 23:16).

ברטנורא על משנה ביכורים א׳:ג׳:א׳

אלא משבעת המינין. דכתיב (דברים כו) מראשית, ולא כל ראשית, שאין כל הפירות חייבים בבכורים אלא שבעת המינין שנשתבחה בהן א״י חטה ושעורה וגו׳, ודבש הוא דבש תמרים:

Bartenura on Mishnah Bikkurim 1:3:1

Rather from the Seven Species. As it is written (Deut. 26) From the first fruits, and not any first fruits, that one is not obligated in bikkurim for every fruit, rather for the Seven Species that Eretz Israel is praised for: wheat and barley, and so on, and honey is date honey.

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

Which foods are special to Eretz Yisrael?

shivat haminim

In our garden do you see any plants that grow particularly well, as the Shivat HaMinim do in Eretz Yisrael?

Living the Lesson

מיכה ד׳:ד׳

(ד) וְיָשְׁב֗וּ אִ֣ישׁ תַּ֧חַת גַּפְנ֛וֹ וְתַ֥חַת תְּאֵנָת֖וֹ וְאֵ֣ין מַחֲרִ֑יד כִּי־פִ֛י ה' צְבָא֖וֹת דִּבֵּֽר׃

Micah 4:4

(4) But every man shall sit Under his grapevine or fig tree With no one to disturb him. For it was the LORD of Hosts who spoke.

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

What do the grapevine and fig tree symbolize?

prosperity and peace

How does this symbolism relate to their special status as part of the Shivat HaMinim?

It shows how sustenance comes and is represented by the native plants of Israel

משנה תורה, הלכות דעות ד׳:י״א

וְהַתְּאֵנִים וְהָעֲנָבִים וְהַשְּׁקֵדִים לְעוֹלָם טוֹבִים בֵּין רְטֻבִּין בֵּין יְבֵשִׁין וְאוֹכֵל אָדָם מֵהֶם כָּל צָרְכּוֹ. וְלֹא יַתְמִיד אֲכִילָתָם אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן טוֹבִים מִכָּל פְּרִי הָאִילָנוֹת:

Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions 4:11

But figs, grapes and almonds are ever good to eat, whether dry or fresh; of them man may eat all he is in need of, but he should not make them part of his diet permanently, notwithstanding that they are better than all other fruits of the trees.

סידור אשכנז, ברכות, ברכת הנהנין, אכילה, ברכות אחרונות, על המחיה ד׳

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְ‑יָ אֱ‑לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, עַל אם אכל פירות משבעת מינים יאמר: הָעֵץ וְעַל פְּרִי הָעֵץ: וְעַל תְּנוּבַת הַשֹּדֶה וְעַל אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה שֶׁרָצִיתָ וְהִנְחַלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ לֶאֱכוֹל מִפִּרְיָהּ וְלִשֹבּוֹעַ מִטּוּבָהּ. רַחֵם ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ עָלֵינוּ וְעַל יִשֹרָאֵל עַמָּךְ וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירָךְ וְעַל הַר צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדָךְ. וְעַל מִזְבָּחָךְ. וְעַל הֵיכָלָךְ. וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקֹדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. וְהַעֲלֵנוּ לְתוֹכָהּ. וְשֹמְּחֵנוּ בְּבִנְיָנָהּ וּנְבָרְכָךְ עָלֶיהָ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה כִּי אַתָּה טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וְנוֹדֶה לְךָ ה' אֱ‑לֹהֵינוּ עַל הָאָרֶץ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', עַל הָאָרֶץ וְעַל על שבעת המינים הַפֵּרוֹת:

Siddur Ashkenaz, Berachot, Birkat Hanehenin, Eating, Brachot Achronot, Al Hamichyah 4

Blessed are you, LORD our God, the King of the Universe, for (if one ate fruit from the Seven Species, say): the tree and the fruit of the tree: And over the bounty of the field and all the land, pleasant, good and broad, that you willed and gave to our ancestors as inheritance, to eat from her fruits and to be satisfied from her goodness. Have mercy, LORD our God, on us and on Israel, your people, and on Jerusalem, your city, and on Mount Zion, the resting place of your glory. And on your altars. And on your Temple. And build Jerusalem, the holy city, quickly in our days. And bring us up into her. And let us rejoice in her buildings and lets us bless You over her in holiness and purity, because You are good and make good for everyone, and we will thank You, LORD our God, for the land. Blessed are you LORD our God, for the land and for for the Seven Species the fruit.

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

Even though we no longer bring Bikkurim, how do we still treat the Shivat HaMinim differently from other food?

In the garden, how do we similarly thank Hashem for all vegetables we eat?

power and specificity of brachot

GrowTorah Core Value: Incubating Emunah

Lesson Title: Birkat HaMazon

דברים ח׳:י׳

(י) וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־ה' אֱלֹקֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ׃

Deuteronomy 8:10

(10) When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

ברכות מ״ח ב:ה׳

תנו רבנן מנין לברכת המזון מן התורה שנאמר ואכלת ושבעת וברכת זו ברכת הזן את ה׳ אלקיך זו ברכת הזמון על הארץ זו ברכת הארץ הטובה זו בונה ירושלים וכן הוא אומר ההר הטוב הזה והלבנון אשר נתן לך זו הטוב והמטיב אין לי אלא לאחריו לפניו מנין אמרת קל וחומר כשהוא שבע מברך כשהוא רעב לא כל שכן

Berakhot 48b:5

The Sages taught in a Tosefta: From where is it derived that Grace after Meals is from the Torah? As it is stated: “And you shall eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless the Lord, your God, for the good land that He has given you” (Deuteronomy 8:10). The Gemara explains: And you shall bless, that is the blessing of: Who feeds all. The Lord, your God, that is the zimmun blessing in which God’s name is invoked. For the land, that is the blessing of the land; good, that is the blessing: Who builds Jerusalem, and it also says: “This good mountain and Lebanon” (Deuteronomy 3:25), which is interpreted homiletically as referring to Jerusalem and the Temple. That He gave you, that is: Who is good and does good. However, I only have a Torah source for blessings after eating, i.e., Grace after Meals. From where is it derived that one is obligated to recite blessings before eating? You said that it can be derived through an a fortiori inference: When one is satisfied, he is obligated to recite a blessing and thank God for food; when he is hungry, all the more so that he should recite a blessing to offer thanks for the food he will eat.

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

What halachot do we derive from the passuk above?

zimmun, birkat hamazon, blessings before eating

When do we observe some of those halachot in the garden?

Living the Lesson

ספורנו על דברים ח׳:י׳:א׳

וברכת את ה' אלקיך למען תזכור כי מאתו היו אלה לך:

Sforno on Deuteronomy 8:10:1

וברכת את ה' אלוקיך, the reason why the Lord blesses you in such a fashion is so that you will remember that only from Him could you have been given a land with such an abundance of advantages.

סידור אשכנז, ברכות, ברכת המזון ד׳

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַזָּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּו, בְּטוּבוֹ בְּחֵן בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים, הוּא נוֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָּשָׂר, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. וּבְטוּבוֹ הַגָּדוֹל תָּמִיד לֹא חָסַר לָנוּ וְאַל יֶחְסַר לָנוּ מָזוֹן לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל, כִּי הוּא אֵל זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וּמֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכָל בְּרִיּוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא. כָּאָמוּר, פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל חַי רָצוֹן. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', הַזָּן אֶת הַכֹּל:

Siddur Ashkenaz, Berachot, Birkat HaMazon 4

Praised are You, Lord our G-d, Ruler of the universe, who in goodness feeds the whole world with grace, kindness, and compassion. G-d gives food to all living things, for G-d's kindness is for ever. Because of G-d's continual great goodness, we have never lacked for food, nor may we ever lack it, for the sake of G-d's great name. For G-d feeds and sustains all, does good to all, and prepares food for all of G-d's creations. Praised are You, Lord, who feeds everybody.

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

What's the purpose of making a bracha before eating?

thanks for the food, gratitude, recognition

In the garden, what should we keep in mind before making a bracha on all the food that we eat?

GrowTorah Core Value: Stewarding the Earth, Incubating Emunah

Lesson Title: Rains and Rivers

דברים י״א:י׳-ט״ו

(י) כִּ֣י הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתָּ֤ה בָא־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ לֹ֣א כְאֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ הִ֔וא אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְצָאתֶ֖ם מִשָּׁ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּזְרַע֙ אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֔ וְהִשְׁקִ֥יתָ בְרַגְלְךָ֖ כְּגַ֥ן הַיָּרָֽק׃ (יא) וְהָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹבְרִ֥ים שָׁ֙מָּה֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ אֶ֥רֶץ הָרִ֖ים וּבְקָעֹ֑ת לִמְטַ֥ר הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם תִּשְׁתֶּה־מָּֽיִם׃ (יב) אֶ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ דֹּרֵ֣שׁ אֹתָ֑הּ תָּמִ֗יד עֵינֵ֨י ה' אֱלֹקֶ֙יךָ֙ בָּ֔הּ מֵֽרֵשִׁית֙ הַשָּׁנָ֔ה וְעַ֖ד אַחֲרִ֥ית שָׁנָֽה׃ (ס) (יג) וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמֹ֤עַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֺתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לְאַהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־ה' אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ וּלְעָבְד֔וֹ בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃ (יד) וְנָתַתִּ֧י מְטַֽר־אַרְצְכֶ֛ם בְּעִתּ֖וֹ יוֹרֶ֣ה וּמַלְק֑וֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ֣ דְגָנֶ֔ךָ וְתִֽירֹשְׁךָ֖ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ׃ (טו) וְנָתַתִּ֛י עֵ֥שֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ֖ לִבְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ׃

Deuteronomy 11:10-15

(10) For the land that you are about to enter and possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come. There the grain you sowed had to be watered by your own labors, like a vegetable garden; (11) but the land you are about to cross into and possess, a land of hills and valleys, soaks up its water from the rains of heaven. (12) It is a land which the LORD your God looks after, on which the LORD your God always keeps His eye, from year’s beginning to year’s end. (13) If, then, you obey the commandments that I enjoin upon you this day, loving the LORD your God and serving Him with all your heart and soul, (14) I will grant the rain for your land in season, the early rain and the late. You shall gather in your new grain and wine and oil— (15) I will also provide grass in the fields for your cattle—and thus you shall eat your fill.

חזקוני, דברים י״א:י׳:ב׳

כי הארץ אשר אתה בא שמה, לא כארץ מצרים היא, אשר תזרע בה את זרעך וגו׳‎ אלא מאי הרי יש לך צורך שישים הקב״‎ה עיניו עליו תמיד לפיכך והיה אם שמוע תשמע ונתתי מטר ארצכם וגו'.

Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 11:10:2

This land is not like Egypt where all the farmer had to do was to plant the seed and nature would take over automatically, as the Nile would irrigate the seedlings and the crops would grow. Therefore: והיה אם תשמעו. “It will be as a result of your hearkening, etc, I will direct My rain to the land that needs it.

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

How did Mitzrayim and Eretz Yisrael differ in how their plants were watered?

In Egypt the land is irrigated by the Nile, in Eretz Israel they are dependent on the rain for water

Why do we need water for our garden to grow?

Living the Lesson

דברים י״א:י״ז

וְחָרָ֨ה אַף־ה' בָּכֶ֗ם וְעָצַ֤ר אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה מָטָ֔ר וְהָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן אֶת־יְבוּלָ֑הּ וַאֲבַדְתֶּ֣ם מְהֵרָ֗ה מֵעַל֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר ה' נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶֽם׃

Deuteronomy 11:17

For the LORD’s anger will flare up against you, and He will shut up the skies so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its produce; and you will soon perish from the good land that the LORD is assigning to you.

ספורנו על דברים י״א:י״ב:א׳

דורש אותה להשגיח על מעשי יושביה אם הם ראוים למטר ואם לא. לפיכך דעו זה כי אמנם:

Sforno on Deuteronomy 11:12:1

דורש אותה, to carefully scrutinize the deeds of its inhabitants to determine if they are deserving the rain or not. Therefore, you should remain aware of the fact.

רשב"ם על דברים י״א:י׳:א׳-ב׳

(א) כי הארץ אשר אתה בא שמה לרשתה לא כארץ מצרים - כן שיטת פרשיות הללו, צריכים אתם לשמור מצות ה' אלקיכם, כי הארץ הזאת טובה מארץ מצרים לשומרי מצותיו ורעה מכל הארצות ללא שומרים, כי הארץ אשר אתה בא שמה איננה כארץ מצרים, שאין צריכין למטר ובין טובים ובין חטאים בטורח השקאת שדותיהם יש להם לחם, אבל ארץ ישראל אם אתם שומרים מצות. (ב) עיני ה' אלקיך בה מראשית השנה ועד אחרית השנה - מטר בעת הצורך.

Rashbam on Deuteronomy 11:10:1-2

(1) כי הארץ אשר אתה בא שמה לרשתה לא כארץ מצרים היא, This is part of the structure of these portions of the Torah, i.e. you need to observe the commandments of the Lord your G’d for the land of Israel cannot be compared to the land of Egypt, being superior in quality to the land of Egypt for the people who observe G’d’s laws. At the same time, it will prove inferior to the land of Egypt for people who do not observe G’d’s laws. Proof of this can be seen already in the fact that the land of Egypt enjoys constant irrigation from the river Nile, does not need rain, whereas the land of Israel is totally dependent on rainfall at the proper time of the year. The Egyptians enjoy their irrigation regardless of their being G’d fearing or not. Their staple foods are assured. The land of Israel, on the other hand, seeing that (2) עיני ה' אלוקיך בה, being constantly under the detailed scrutiny of the Lord your G’d, מרשית שנה ועד אחרית השנה, to ensure that you will have the necessary rainfall at the right time in the right amount, makes you aware of the need to conduct yourself so that He approves of you.

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

How can davening for rain improve our faith in Hashem?

Being aware of our needs and our dependence can tie us more closely to the Earth in its systems and unpredictability, and to Hashem as its creator and king.

How does working in the garden help you understand the necessity for rain, and our dependence on Hashem?