This week marks the beginning of the fourth year of AIMeMTorah. Thank you very much for all your support over the years. May we share many more words of Torah together.
Parshas Eikev begins, “וְהָיָה | עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת
הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם” “And it will be, because you will heed these
ordinances and keep them and perform” (Devarim 7:12). All the commentaries ask the
purpose of the word “וְהָיָה” “And it will be”; wouldn’t the pasuk be just as
understandable without it?
The Ohr HaChaim brings a Chazal which
explains that the word “וְהָיָה” is used to represent happiness. Moshe
Rabbeinu is using this language to give over his Mussar in a pleasant, easy way
for Bnei Yisrael to accept and understand it. He is explaining that only when
you perform all the mitzvos can you be truly happy. However, as long as
you are lacking in even just one mitzvah, true happiness is not attainable.
The word “עֵקֶב” as well has a different meaning other
than the simple translation. Chazal explain that it is used to mean a
conclusion. The pasuk is then read as follows: When you complete fulfilling the
mitzvos, then it will be the time of Simcha, happiness, for you. But
once again, true happiness only will be achieved by fulfilling all the
mitzvos.
May this Shabbos lead and inspire us to
fulfilling all the mitzvos and achieving true Simcha.
Shabbat
Shalom!
The Ohr
HaChaim gives several more explanations on how this theme of happiness fits
into the idea here of doing the mitzvos. If you are able to, I would strongly
encourage everyone to see the rest of them.
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Check out our other AIMeMTorah project, Nation's Wisdom!
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