Parashat Eikev: In This Week's Parashah
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ByHadar Institute

In This Week’s Parashah: מָה בַּפָּרָשָׁה​​​​​​​

Full Parashah Reading: Devarim 7:12-11:25
  • Moshe asks Benei Yisrael to follow the mitzvot, and to remember all the ways God has cared for them in the wilderness. If they do this, they will be blessed and the land will produce plenty of food.
  • But abundance can become a problem. When life feels comfortable, a person might imagine that they alone are responsible for their success. Be careful of this kind of thinking! In fact, we are always dependent on God.
  • One way to keep this lesson in mind is by thanking God after eating.
  • Moshe retells the story of how Benei Yisrael rebelled in the wilderness, when they worshiped a golden עֵגֶל (eigel, calf). Moshe stuck up for the people. He prayed to God to remember the promise to Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yaakov.
  • If Benei Yisrael fear, love, and stick to God, then rain will come at the right time in Eretz Yisrael. But if they fail, then there won’t be enough rain. This is where we get the second paragraph of Shema!
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