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August 11 – Shabbat Evening Service – Oneg is being sponsored by Sharon and Sidney Morris

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torah

Torah

Torah

Torah Portion of the Week: Eikev

Moses speaks of them (children of Israel) as a stiff-necked people, reminding the people of their frequent trespasses. He recalls in particular, the sin of the Golden Calf, which he describes in a very personal and emotional tone, in contrast to the Torah’s original telling of the story in Exodus 32, which is more detached and dispassionate. He reminds the people (Deuteronomy 9:5-6), that they were sinful, wicked and defiant and that “God’s favor has been bestowed upon them not because of their merits, but rather despite their moral failures.”

Moses recalls (Deuteronomy 9:25-29, 10:10), that had it not been for him, there would have been no way to stop G-d’s anger and vengeance. It was Moses who served as the intermediary between G-d and the people, and who, time and again, rescued them from certain destruction.

It is in this context of exhortation and appeal that Moses teaches the people how to grow close to God.

In Deuteronomy 8:6, Moses tells the people “You shall observe the commandments of the Lord your God to go in His ways and to fear Him. Once again, in Deuteronomy 10:12, Moses says, “Now, O’ Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you? Only to fear the Lord your God to go in all His ways and to love Him.

The Chofetz Chaim points to a third verse in which God promises to reward the people for their loyalty, Deuteronomy 11:22 “For if you will observe this entire commandment that I command you, to perform it, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to cleave to Him, then God will drive out all your enemies.

The Chofetz Chaim notes that while the phrase, “to walk in God’s ways”, is repeated three times, in each instance it is intended to serve a different purpose.

The Chofetz Chaim maintains that there are three stations or degrees of serving God. In the first instance it says “to revere the Lord your God”. The second level, which is higher than the first, it states,” to love the Lord your God. The third and final level, which is higher than all, is “ to cling to God”

The Chofetz Chaim maintains that every Jew must strive to rise higher and higher, from one level to the next, from one degree to the next. One must first strive to reach the level of ‘ reverence’. When the level of reverence is reached, one must continue climbing to the level of אַהֲבָה – of loving the Lord. And finally, when reaching the level of loving the Lord, one must not stand stationary, but must continue to climb, to reach the exalted level of וּלְדָבְקָה בוֹ , to cling to God.

The root of the Hebrew word דְּבֵקוּת, (d’vekut) is דֶבֶק , glue, meaning to cling or unite. D’vekut represents a spiritual union between the human being and the Al-mighty God. It is attainable, by not only following God’s dictates due to reverence, and imitating God’s ways out of love, but actually attempting to meld with the Al-mighty, to become spiritually united with God through acts of goodness, mercy and compassion.

Moses is aware that the People of Israel have a long journey ahead of them, not only to the Promised Land, but a journey that will lead the people through millennia of Jewish history. It is this educational and spiritual “journey” that Moses presents to the people. It is a journey of spiritual growth, from reverence, to loving and, ultimately, to uniting one’s soul with the sanctity of the Divine Presence. Shabbat Shalom!

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