Lead Tidbit
Lesson-filled Two-part Summary
In the first part of Moshe Rabeinu’s farewell address to the people - in the sedras of D’varim, Va’etchanan, and Eikev - many things are said, many times each, in different ways. We can, perhaps, summarize what Moshe Rabeinu is trying to impress upon the people, the new generation about to enter Eretz Yisrael. And that summary is contained in no less than the first two parshiyot of the Sh’ma. The first part is from Va’etchanan and the second passage is in Eikev. These two parshiyot are the contents of a Mezuza; they are two of the four parshiyot in T’filin; they are two of the three passages of the twice daily (and more) of Kri’at Sh’ma.Look what each parsha says.

Start with a simple but eloquent summary of the basic belief in G-d. HaShem Echad echoes the first two Commandments of the Aseret HaDibrot. Follow that be the command to love G-d and study His Torah so that we will know what He wants of us and do it all with the best possible motivation. Aside from this straightforward, foundation stone of Judaism (it’s really more than that - it’s ALL of Judaism; the rest is detail), we also find the mizvot that remind us of this foundation stone. First parsha says: Believe in G-d, love Him, and keep the Torah.

The second parsha contains the same reminder-mitzvot, but expands the basic focus of parsha one in a very significant way. If you keep the mitzvot, then there will be tangible reward in the form of plentiful rain and abundant produce. But if you don’t... you will incur G-d’s wrath, the heavens will be locked, there will not be rain, the earth will not give forth its yield, AND you will be exiled from the good land which G-d has given you. Reward and Punishment. Connection between Torah observance and the Land. Commands, like in the first parsha, to learn Torah, wear T’filin, affix Mezuzot.

Clear? Got it? As we’ve said before... Let’s do it! As individuals and as Klal Yisrael. Le’s learn it, teach it, and do it.