Ekev 5784: The Light in Every Mitzvah

How can a single word in the Torah guide us toward deeper spiritual understanding?

In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Yizcah Smith dive into Parshat Ekev, exploring the profound spiritual insights hidden within the word “Ekev.” They discuss how the rabbis and sages have drawn out layers of meaning from this one word, uncovering its significance in both ancient and modern contexts. The conversation delves into the importance of intention and mindfulness in fulfilling mitzvot, highlighting how even the most routine commandments offer opportunities for profound connection with the Divine. Through thoughtful analysis, they provide listeners with tools to bring light and meaning into their everyday spiritual practices.

These key texts help deepen your listening experience:

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

SOURCES

דברים ז׳:י״ב

(יב) וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ עֵ֣קֶב תִּשְׁמְע֗וּן אֵ֤ת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְשָׁמַר֩ יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ לְךָ֗ אֶֽת־הַבְּרִית֙ וְאֶת־הַחֶ֔סֶד אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃

Deuteronomy 7:12

(12) And if you do obey these rules and observe them carefully, your God יהוה will maintain faithfully for you the covenant made on oath with your fathers:

רש"י על דברים ז׳:י״ב

(א)והיה עקב תשמעון. אִם הַמִּצְווֹת קַלּוֹת שֶׁאָדָם דָּשׁ בַּעֲקֵבָיו תשמעון.(ב)ושמר יהוה וגו'. יִשְׁמֹר לְךָ הַבְטָחָתוֹ (עי' תנחומא):

Rashi on Deuteronomy 7:12

(1) והיה עקב תשמעון AND THE CONSEQUENCE WILL BE, IF YE HEARKEN (The Hebrew text may be taken to signify if you will hear the heel, עקב) — If, even the lighter commands which a person usually treads on with his heels (i.e. which a person is inclined to treat lightly), ye will hearken to, (2) ושמר יהוה וגו׳ THEN THE LORD [THY GOD] WILL KEEP FOR THEE His promise (Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 1).

מדרש תנחומא, עקב א׳

(א)וְהָיָה עֵקֶב. זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: לָמָּה אִירָא בִּימֵי רָע, עֲוֹן עֲקֵבַי יְסוּבֵּנִי (תהלים מט, ו). יִתְבָּרֵךְ שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁנָּתַן תּוֹרָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וּשְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִצְוֹת, וְיֵשׁ בָּהֶן קַלּוֹת וַחֲמוּרוֹת. וּמִפְּנֵי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן מִצְוֹת קַלּוֹת שֶׁאֵין בְּנֵי אָדָם מַשְׁגִּיחִין בָּהֶן אֶלָּא שֶׁמַּשְׁלִיכִין אוֹתָן תַּחַת עִקְבֵיהֶן, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁהֵן קַלּוֹת.

Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 1

(1) (Deut. 7:12:) “And it shall come to pass if (literally, in the heel of).” This text is related (to Ps. 49:6), “Why should I fear in the evil days, when the iniquity of my heels encompass me?” May the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, be blessed because He has given a Torah to Israel in which there are six hundred and thirteen commandments, some of which are light and some weighty. But because some of the commandments are light, people pay no attention to them. Instead they cast them under their heels [while] saying they are light.

משנה אבות ב׳:א׳

(א)רַבִּי אוֹמֵר... וֶהֱוֵי זָהִיר בְּמִצְוָה קַלָּה כְבַחֲמוּרָה.

Pirkei Avot 2:1

(1)Rabbi said... And be careful with a light commandment as with a grave one.

ויקרא י״ט:ב׳

(ב) דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־כׇּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵהֶ֖ם קְדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

Leviticus 19:2

(2) Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, your God יהוה, am holy.

ויקרא י״ט:י״ח

(יח) לֹֽא־תִקֹּ֤ם וְלֹֽא־תִטֹּר֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ אֲנִ֖י יהוה׃

Leviticus 19:18

(18) You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against members of your people. Love your fellow [Israelite] as yourself: I am יהוה.

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