Perashat Ekeb 5776

Perashat Ekeb 5776

All too often the obvious is overlooked.  For example, we may be looking for something which has been right in front of us all along, though we cannot see it. Then there are times when we are taking a multiple-choice exam and the answer is staring us in the face, but we ignore it.  Other times, we are looking for a solution to a problem - and are provided with a solution - but we dismiss it, thinking that it is too simplistic. In essence, what is in front of us we can’t see, and what is too simple, we ignore. 

For the last 68 years since the establishment of the State of Israel, many political leaders, in Israel, the United States, in Europe, and at the United Nations have attempted to suggest, recommend, negotiate, impose and resolve the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors; all to no avail. Over 13 Israeli Prime Ministers, 12 American Presidents, 8 United Nations Secretary-Generals, have failed in their quest to achieve peace. Every leader, as he or she assumes his or her position, proclaim that they will be the ones to achieve it; and yet, they all have failed miserably. 

Perashat Ekeb states the obvious very clearly. Yet, everyone misses it, overlooks it, ignores it, or plainly are not aware of it.  It is so obvious – and  maybe because it is so obvious - we tend to dismiss it. Chapter 11:22-25 states:

“²² For if you will take care to obey all these commandments I am giving you, to do them, to love Adonai your God, to follow all His ways and to cling to Him, ²³ then Adonai will expel all these nations from before you; and you will drive out nations greater and stronger than yourselves. ²⁴ Every place where the sole of your foot steps will be yours; your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon and from the River, the Euphrates River, to the Western Sea, shall be your boundary. ²⁵ No one will be able to stand up to you; Adonai your God will place the fear and dread of you on all the land you step on, as He told you.”

How often have we read this paragraph and have not completely  understood it,  ignored it, or thought it does not apply to us nowadays? This paragraph has been in the Torah for over 3300 years; it has not changed, nor was it just added - it has said the same thing all these many years. At times the obvious is overlooked.  

Our Hakhamim in Pirke Abot – in the Ethics of the Fathers, proclaim that the Torah has everything in it:  הפוך בה והפוך בה דכולא בה – “Delve into it and delve into it, for all is in it.”  Of course, many commentators, classical, and contemporary, will tell you that many times things are hinted at or implicit in the Torah, or come as innuendos and suggestions. Some scholars in recent decades have discovered what they refer to as, the “codes”, where the Torah reveals things by hidden patterned-codes and numerology. I can understand that the hints, innuendos, suggestions, codes or implicit mentions can be missed, skipped, ignored or overlooked. However, explicit and clear statements should not be – and  yet they are.  A case in point is our verses in our Perashat Ekeb quoted above. 

Peace in Israel, and indeed in the entire world, could have been achieved long ago.  If only, we would have hearkened to the eternal words of the Torah and the wisdom of G-d. Doesn’t He know better? Had humanity followed G-ds commandments, “suggestions”, or advice, the world would have been a better place. As we explained last week, obeying all these ethical and moral rules -  the basic commandments of respecting one another and one’s elders, not stealing, robbing, lying, committing fraud, killing, or being jealous, and not desiring other people’s property and possessions - could have prevented wars, revolutions, persecutions, discriminations and all the malaise that our civilization suffers from.  These moral and ethical rules of the Torah are so very explicit and simple to the naked eye! They are not hinted at, nor suggested or only implicit, and they certainly do not need to be decoded by intelligence agencies. They are right there in the text for everyone to see. 

You may be tempted to use the excuse that this paragraph that I quoted, is found only at the end of the Perasha, and that is why many people are not aware of it since they may lose interest before reaching  the end of the Perasha. Well, truthfully, we do not need to wait until the end of the Perasha to read this paragraph. The Perasha begins with a similar paragraph, chapter 7:12-17:

“¹² If you listen to these laws and are careful to follow them, observe and perform them, then the Lord your God will keep His covenant and kindness with you, as He swore to your forefathers. ¹³ He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land He swore to your forefathers to give you. ¹⁴ You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young. ¹⁵ The Lord will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.” 

Indeed, on almost every page of the Torah, we have very clear instructions and promises, that had we followed them and observed them, the world would have been a much better place and the state of our People would have been a much better one. 

Next time we open up the Sefer Torah, let us listen carefully to the reader and pay close attention to what is really written there… especially the obvious paragraphs!