Torah Portion - August 21, 2008
Parashat Eikev, Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25
Rabbi Mark S. Kram, Temple Beth
As we approach the High Holidays, there is so much in this portion to remind us that we are always being asked to do teshuvah – to return – to God. Sure, there’s the “If you do such and such, then I (God) will respond with such and such reward.” And, to some extent, that is a message from Eikev. If you act well, you are rewarded.
But that may be over-simplistic. Formulaic.
Deuteronomy Chapter 8:2 says, “And you shall remember all the way that YHWH, your God, had you go these forty years in the wilderness in order to degrade you, to test you, to know what was in your heart: would you observe His commandments or not.”
Richard Friedman comments that the sequence of verbs is powerful b/c it was used before. “Degrade” is used to describe what the Egyptians sis to the Israelites as slaves. It means to bring down, to humble, to lower someone. The Egyptians did this to weaken the Israelites. God does it to test their strength. “Test” is the word God uses commanding Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. The result: God’s confidence in Abraham to follow God’s word – he passed the test. The third word, “to know” is also a Divine test to establish what is in the human heart.
At the High Holidays, we recognize that we are being tested. What are we made of? What strengths and what weaknesses? How do we approach God at our holiest time of the year? How will we prepare for the High Holidays? What do we bring to the services – a humble attitude?
As we prepare for High Holidays 5769, may we aspire to bring the best of who we are – our intentions, our humility, our modesty, forsaking pride and arrogance – bringing our best selves to cleanse and purify our souls and our lives as we prepare to begin this New Year!
Shabbat Shalom!
Mark