SEDRA EIKEV 2010 - Have you lost your way, which direction are you taking.
This week’s Sedra contains a monumental challenge for us today as never before and causes us to stop and look at where we are going in our spiritual journey through life.
Which path to take, where will it lead to? Am I going in the right direction?
Why do we need to ask these questions now, today?
I believe that the relevance of questioning the direction we are taking is crucial to an understanding of this week’s Sedra.
We are facing many challenges to our religious identity and direction in the ultra modern world in which we live.
The clue as to why we need to stop and think now, is contained in the paragraph of the Shema contained in our Sedra. “ And it will be that if you listen to My commandments that I command you today” (11.13). These commandments are as relevant today as much as all our yesterdays- TODAY and all our tomorrows.
The big question that is being asked of us is “And now Israel, what does Hashem, your G-d ask of you?” (10:12).
The Maharshaw in Brochos 33:2 explains that there are two major approaches to the way one serves G-d.
- Yiras Haw Onesh- through the fear of punishment.
- Yiras Haw RohM’mus- not through fear but through respect out of awe and reverence for G-d.
The Ramo in notes to The Code of Jewish Law begins with an excerpt from the Rambam describing Haw RohM’mus, reverence as follows:-
“WE do not sit, move and occupy ourselves when we are alone and at home, in the same manner as we do in the presence of a great king. We speak as we please when we are with people in our household and our relatives, but not so when we are in a royal assembly”.
The basis of serving Hashem has to be living our faith each and every day as the Prophet Habakuk states “ The righteous shall live by his faith”.
When we say the Shema the reverence we feel for Hashem should penetrate our bones and body; out total being, for prayer without meaning and expression and concentration is worthless.
Our Sedra then presents us with an apparent contradiction, that in order to cleave to G-d we first must “walk in His ways”, then and only then will we fear Hashem out of awe and reverence. We will then become to love our G-d with all our heart, reaching the pinnacle of our efforts through Devekus, know in Chassidus, as cleaving to G-d.
When we set out on any journey we must have a goal in mind. We plan down to the smallest detail our itinerary and what we will take with us.
In the Sedra the itinerary that we are advised to follow is “to follow in all His ways”.
The item we are to take with us in this spiritual journey is “the commandments of Hashem”. We need to emulate Hashem’s attributes of compassion and benevolence in our relationship with our fellow man. Only when we truly walk in Hashem’s ways will we begin to experience the reverence and awe mentioned in the Sedra.
The Rambam in Yad Hazakah, Hichot Shabbat says “ The purpose of the laws of the Torah is to promote compassion, loving kindness and peace in the world”.
As Jews we are therefore obligated to become good as is humanly possible, to become holy and to keep Judaism alive as an IS not an ISM.
The Gaon of Vilna in his commentary on Proverbs 24:31 and 25:4 says:-
“ The Torah is to the souls of man what rain is to the soil; rain makes any seed put into the soil grow, producing nourishing as well as poisonous plants. The Torah also helps him who is striving for self perfection, while it increases the impurity of the heart of those that remain uncultivated”.
The journey we face every day can be made easier if we would only “ walk in His ways”. May we find it in ourselves ‘ Bein Odom L Chavero’ in our dealings with each other the opportunities to “walk in His ways” so that we can rise to the challenge in our Sedra of “ Ma Hashem Elokercho Showeyl Meyimmoch”, “ What does Hashem your G-d ask of you”
I know which path I want to journey on. I hope I do not lose my way!
Wishing you all a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat, TTFN.
(Part of a regular Thursday shiur given at Young Israel of North Netanya Synagogue)
