Parshat Eikev 5761
August 10th-11th, 2001

Is there anything whatsoever to write or say?  What inspiration can be drawn from the week's parsha, after the utterly and unspeakably horrific news from Israel?  Our hearts go out to the families of the brutally murdered men, women and children…

Maybe there is a small thought we can share, after all.  And let it be l'zecher (for the memory of) the innocent people who perished.

Tragedy and tribulation--whether or not on the massive scale of yesterday's bombing in Jerusalem--often call forth an anguished cry from the afflicted (and, perhaps even more often, from those onlookers safe on the sidelines).  "How could this happen?  Why is this happening?"  Usually, the questions are directed upwards, to the "heavens," to a G-d Who is now summoned in grief and devastation…but Who may or may not have been much of a living reality in their consciousness theretofore. 

I am not censuring from the pulpit here, but only stating the plain facts of human nature (which apply to us rabbis just as well).  We tend to ignore the metaphysical aspect of life--our Father in Heaven, to put it in more heimish terms--when things in the physical world are running along smoothly.  We are in far greater danger of losing sight of "the big picture," of engaging ultimate questions of meaning and purpose, when our world is sunny (or, better, when there is "a mixture of sun and clouds," as the meteorologists like to say) than when life turns stormy.   

We don't ask for affliction, G-d forbid, and we wish only blessings for ourselves and for all mankind.  But it is hard to deny that it often has the effect of making a person less superficial, and more reflective, than does
good fortune.        

Moshe Rabbeiunu was quite aware of the (spiritual) danger of good fortune and prosperity, and fervently warned the Jewish people on that score--as they readied themselves to enter the Land of Israel--in this week's Torah portion.

"Take care lest your forget Hashem, your G-d, by not observing His commandments, His ordinances, and His decrees, which I command you today, lest you eat and be satisfied, and you build good houses and settle, and your cattle and sheep and goats increase, and you increase silver and gold for yourselves, and everything that you have will increase-and your heart will become haughty, and you will forget Hashem, your G-d, Who took you out of the land of Egypt from the house of slavery…you may say in your heart, 'My strength and the might of my hand made me all this wealth!' 

Then you shall remember Hashem, your G-d: that it was He Who gave you strength to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant that He swore to your forefathers…" (Devarim, 8: 11-14, 17-18; Artscroll translation; my emphasis)

The Ohr HaChayim (famed mystical commentator on the Torah) explains that it is the first of the "wiles of the 'yetzer ha'ra' [evil inclination] to persuade a person to forget that the Almighty is the Source of his or her material success.  From there, it is easy for a person to begin a steady spiritual descent (which, the Torah intimates in the subsequent verse, can lead ultimately to idolatry and the outright denial of Hashem). Conversely, the Ohr HaChayim writes, giving thanks to Hashem for one's wealth and success will "awaken him to always remember His Creator and His providence," and act as a "great safeguard for the service of G-d." [Ohr Hachayim to 8, 18; my translations.]

It's "natural" to think of G-d (even if only to question His justice) when tragedy strikes, but much harder to remember that He enabled you to earn your wealth.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch writes that this is one intention of the mitzvah of birkat ha'mazon [grace after meals], the source of which appears directly before the verses quoted above.  ("You will eat and be satisfied, and bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good land that He gave you."-8, 10)  By mentioning G-d and His kindness in the blessings after a meal, we call to mind the noble purpose for which we have received the land (and the other material goods of life), and remind ourselves that "we only remain worthy of the blessings which we receive as long as we remain mindful…of our duty to become a 'blessing ourselves,' to fulfill what G-d has declared to be His will for us on earth."  (Hirsch, Commentary to Torah: Deuteronomy, p. 150)

Why does G-d give us good fortune in the first place?  The answer, as Hirsch continues, is so that "we use such possessions and enjoyments only in the service of Him Who has 'posted us' in His realm and granted us these things as means with which to fulfill His orders."  As the verse above plainly puts it, "it was He Who gave you strength to make wealth in order to establish His covenant," i.e. in order for us to be able to keep His covenant by serving Him amidst plenty, sanctifying the wealth and enjoyments He gives us. 

Make no mistake: we are all deeply affected by the terrible tragedies that have befallen our fellow Jews in the Land of Israel.  After all, with all our divisions, we are still "one nation, with one heart."  (Our enemies certainly see it this way, so why shouldn't we?)   

But, at the same time, who could deny that on the whole, we Jews in America have had it incredibly good?  We have been blessed with material success the likes of which have never been seen in all our history.  We've built good houses and settled, we've increased silver and gold for ourselves in a very big way.  A great challenge for us, I think, is to heed the warning of Moshe Rabbeinu and to strive to remember that G-d is the One Who, ultimately, has allowed us to have it so good.  And He has done so to enable us to serve Him.  With joy, and amidst plenty. 

As the Torah says: "Then you shall remember Hashem, your G-d: that it was He Who gave you strength to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant that He swore to your forefathers…" 

May we use all the blessings our disposal to serve G-d with gladness, and try to take better advantage of the wonderful opportunities life in America has given us to grow in our observance of Torah. Let the tragedies we've witnessed strengthen us in this holy resolve to be better Jews.  I believe this is one important way we can honor the deceased-may they rest in peace. 

GOOD SHABBOS.

YOSEF EDELSTEIN

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Rabbi Yosef Edelstein, Savannah Kollel. Phone: 355-0157; fax: 354-9923; e-mail address: Yosef18@aol.com