Shabbat Eikev - עקב
Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25
Isaiah 49:14 - 51:3

Experts in child development might take me to task for the specifics of this approach even though they would agree (I suppose) that through their lifetimes, normal human beings progress through distinct but interrelated stages of emotional and intellectual growth. Frequently, these points in the cycle of our lives form a sort of chiasm – that is a mirror image of itself. A newborn is 100% reactive, responding only to its own comfort and needs. Likewise, all but the most exceptional elderly, at some point (hopefully later rather than earlier) start losing interest in the wider world. In between, with God’s help, we grow beyond the youthful narcissism of early life toward greater concern for and engagement with the world.

Through the middle years of life our thoughts and activities ebb and flow in response to our feelings of efficacy. We are governed by whether or not we believe that what we do really makes a difference. The more effective we feel, the more we engage and vice versa. Saying ‘you can’t fight city hall’ is an admission of powerlessness. Fortunately, some people do try to fight city halls, corporations and other ‘Goliaths’ that have run amok and occasionally they win. Leadership, in any context, requires both an acceptance of responsibility and a healthy self-recognition of an ability to impact whatever situation is at hand.

This week our reading’s title word ‘eikev’ is often mistranslated as simply ‘if’. In full context it is better understood to mean “as a result of”. Therefore rendering the opening verse of our parashah as: “And it will come to pass, as a result of your observing these laws, guarding them and doing them… “. The text proceeds with Moses’ retelling the Biblical “deal” to this new generation of Hebrews who are about to enter Israel. Simply put, if you observe mishpatim – ethical laws – then things will go well with you.

The choice of words is quite significant. The text could simply say ‘im tish’m’un’ which would mean ‘if you observe’. Selecting a verb that means ‘as a result’ gives the message two finer nuances:

1) “If” (in Hebrew ‘im’) may connote happenstance or unfettered choice. It is possible that one can be ethical and do the ‘right’ thing simply by accident. Of course the law of averages says that in the long run you will do the wrong thing just as many times. This ‘if’ can also mean that today you behaved yourself as a matter of unmitigated desire and that tomorrow you could choose something else. ‘Eikev’ which is the same root as the name Ya’akov (heel) implies thoughtful and deliberate behavior in response to the ethical standards set by the Torah and our Mitzvot and mindfulness of our obligations to both society and our Creator.

2) ‘Im’ can also imply that the whole enterprise of life is left up to chance and that doing what is wrong or right has no relationship to nor impact on either the micro or macro outcomes of your actions – a total disconnect between cause and effect. ‘Eikev’ makes the opposite argument by connoting an intertwined, complex, but yet unified creation where even the smallest act, gesture or deed has a real, even if imperceptible, impact on the universe. In its simplest terms a good deed done engenders others and even ritual acts serve to repair the fabric of creation.

As we turn the corner toward the High Holy Days it is good to remember that there are entailments of our actions. We truly live in a world that can be made more broken or whole because of the ‘eikev’ - consequences - of each and every deed.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Steve Denker