Torah Portion - August 8, 2009

D’var Torah: “Little Things and Big Things”

Shabbat Eikev 8/8/09

Rabbi Mark S. Kram, Temple Beth Or, Miami, FL

 

It’s always “the little things” that seem to be the most important.  “The Big Things” seem to be taken care of.  For example, in the Kram household, I take care of the “Big Things”: Should we wage war?  What should be the fiscal policy of the U.S.?  Who should our country deal with and how?  Mindy deals with the “Small Things” – like, where we should live?  Where should the kids go to school (when they were young)?  Where should we work?  Etc. 

 

Obviously an overstatement, but you get the idea.  The “Small Things” are never small.  They find their way into our consciousness and our lives every day.  They cry for our attention by the minute.  We cannot ignore them, even if we try.

 

Likewise with the “small” people vs. “important” people.  Sure, I’d like to meet President Obama (especially have a beer with him like the professor and police officer from Cambridge!).  But how we treat those with little status – the housekeepers, secretaries or assistants, office workers, AND custodians – is the true measure of who we are as people. 

 

Our Torah portion begins, “And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances and keep them and perform, that the Lord, your God, will keep the covenant for you and the kindness that God swore to your ancestors.”  The word used here for “because” is Eikev in Hebrew.  It comes from the same root as Yaakov – Jacob – our father.  Literally, Eikev means “heel.”  Jacob is seen as “a heel” because he took the birthright from Esau with the offer of lentil stew after his brother returned from a day of hunting.  But why this strange word usage?  Why not use other choices like “ki” – because? 

 

The great commentator, Rashi, says the following, “If you will heed the minor commandments which one [usually] tramples with his heels [i.e., which a person treats as being of minor importance], then God will keep the promises made to you.” 

 

We don’t know the real importance of the mitzvot.  So we learn that we should invite holiness into our lives through each of them – just as we invite holiness in when we treat others – ALL OTHERS – as made in the image of God.

 

Shabbat Shalom!