VOLUME 107 NUMBER 3 
Av 17, 5783
August 4, 2023
PARSHAS EIKEV
Candlelighting Time 7:52 PM

The parsha discusses the many attributes of Hashem. One is that He is our praise. Does that mean that we should praise Him or is there another meaning to this verse? Netziv cites the Talmud that the great Sage Rabbi Elazar ben Pedas was very engrossed in learning. Therefore, when he left the upper marketplace in Tzipori and trekked down to the lower area, his robe was still entangled in the upper area. It would seem that he was unaware of this and continued his walk deeply absorbed in Torah thoughts. He mentions that perhaps we would like askance at such a person who seems to be acting in a strange way and in today’s parlance, ‘not put together’. He explains that on the contrary, people had deep respect and admiration for him since they realized that his profound absorption in such significant matters was the reason for this happening. 

This is exactly the point of this verse. Even though in other ways if someone would conduct themselves in an unusual manner he would be categorized as a strange individual, when it comes to Torah, that is not the case. Rather, despite one’s atypical demeanor, this will not place him at that risk. The average person will be so awestruck and enthralled by such a personage that he will only display extreme veneration and esteem for him.      

Indeed, this is precisely what is meant that Hashem is our praise. Our unbounded love for Hashem and Torah is the element that elicits such demeanor. When one is so enraptured with his attachment to Hashem and Torah he simply ‘forgets himself’ and becomes completely rivetted on these matters of primary importance. 

Malbim adds that a fundamental dynamic in this is the tremendous abundance of good that we receive from Hashem. That ongoing kindness and generosity that we are the recipients of creates that connection promoting tremendous immersion in studying Torah. That is the praise that the Torah is referring to. We constantly and consistently praise Hashem for all that we have and resultantly we respond with our actions that convey that homage and tribute.

Perhaps as an addendum to the Malbim, Rabbeinu Bachya includes the thought that we must realize that not only does Hashem provide us with our means of support in all ways, but He is the only source of all that we possess. We sometimes forget that even though we are also participating in how we procure our needs, still we must clearly realize that our efforts are not only just secondary to the gifts that Hashem endows us with, but more than that, it is only due to Hashem that we have our necessities in life available to us. Furthermore, other apparent sources of our needs are only functioning and supporting us through the supreme thoughtfulness of Hashem. 

In conclusion, perhaps the greatest promoter of our efforts in Torah and performance of mitzvos is that recognition of what we owe to Hashem and then we become highly motivated and impassioned to serve Him as we indeed should. 

A BYTE FOR SHABBOS

In the parsha of Shema we double the word ‘to accept’ Hashem’s mitzvos because we need to realize that it make take many times of compliance with the Torah to accomplish become close to Hashem.                          

S’FAS EMES

GOOD SHABBOS