Parashat Eikev (because) Deuteronomy7:12 - 11:25
HafTorah Isaiah 49:14 - 51:3
Dear friends,
This Shabbat, we continue our summer readings and studying of the Book of Deuteronomy and the Haftarot of Comfort and Consolation of the Prophet Isaiah.
In this week's Torah portion of Eikev, Moses continues his final discourses by recounting events that happened in the wilderness during the previous forty years. It is stressed that Adonai took care of all of the Children of Israel's physical needs, and it was only when they could perform the mitzvot that they were provided, that they were ready to enter the Promised Land that awaited them. The concept that "we do not live by bread alone" is stressed in this Sedrah comes directly from Deuteronomy 8:3
וַֽיְעַנְּךָ֮ וַיַּרְעִבֶ֒ךָ֒ וַיַּאֲכִֽלְךָ֤ אֶת־הַמָּן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יָדַ֔עְתָּ וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּן אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן הוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֗ כִּ֠י לֹ֣א עַל־הַלֶּ֤חֶם לְבַדּוֹ֙ יִחְיֶ֣ה הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֛י עַל־כׇּל־מוֹצָ֥א פִֽי־יְהֹוָ֖ה יִחְיֶ֥ה הָאָדָֽם׃
"You were subjected to the hardship of hunger and then gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your ancestors had ever known, in order to teach you that a human being does not live on bread alone, but that one may live on anything that יהוה decrees."
We are taught not to be self-righteous and that we are not automatically entitled to having our own needs met from above, but instead, from living righteous lives and obeying the mitzvot. And we must be thankful for what we have as it is said in Deuteronomy 8:10
וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ:
"When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to your God יהוה for the good land given to you." We have been given the land (and all life for that matter) and the mental and physical tools in which to cultivate it, and for that we must always be thankful. This phrase is so important that it is included as an important line in our Birkat HaMazon (grace after meals).
All this helps us prepare for the themes of the High Holy Days throughout these late summer weeks and I encourage you to join us in study and in prayer every Shabbat. Tonight, we gather in-person and virtuallly, on Zoom at 7:30 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30 am.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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FRIDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service Friday 08/23/2024 7:30 pm
Time: Aug 23, 2024 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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SATURDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Saturday Service 9:30 am
Time: Aug 24, 2024 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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