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eikeV ב ֶק ֵע
£The Fiftieth Gate of UnderstandingThe Fiftieth Gate of UnderstandingThe Fiftieth Gate of Understanding For the land that you are coming there to inherit it is
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The portion of Eikev, which describes the rewards promised the
Jewish people for keeping the mitzvot, begins with the words “and
it will be” (vehayah). Later in the portion, the Torah uses the same
words to introduce what is commonly known as the second paragraph
of the Shema: “And it will be that if you listen….” Near the end of
the book of Deuteronomy, the portion of Ki Tavo, which describes
the Jewish people’s entry into the Land of Israel, also begins with
the same Hebrew word “vehayah.” Our Sages have noted that when
a book or Torah portion begins with this word, this phenomenon
signals great joy.
This joy appears to be related to the Land of Israel, for in all three
cases the Land of Israel is central to the ensuing verses. In Eikev,
the most exquisite and detailed description of the Promised Land is
woven into the portion. The second paragraph of the Shema clearly
links the reward and punishment for mitzvah observance to the
people’s residence in the Land. If the Jewish people observe the laws
of the Torah, they will be deemed worthy of living in the Land in a
state of peace and contentment, whereas if they do not observe the
laws, they will be driven out of the Land. The great joy associated
with just being in the Land of Israel is still palpably felt by those
who visit or immigrate to Israel. Despite (or, perhaps, because of) all
the Jewish people have experienced throughout history, just being
in the Land is still a unique thrill.
One phrase the Torah uses to describe the Promised Land’s
bounty is “you will lack nothing there” (Deuteronomy 8:9). A more
literal translation of this verse reads, “you will not lack – everything
is in it.” It is truly amazing that in such a small country there are
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Eikev 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 18 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:05 | SR:-- | Cyan
£Secrets of RainSecrets of RainSecrets of Rain
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The portion of Eikev remarks on the importance of rain twice. In the
first, the Torah compares the lands of Egypt and Israel:
not like the land of Egypt that you left there, where you
would plant your seed and irrigate it with your foot like
a vegetable garden. But the land that you cross over to
inherit is a land of mountains and valleys; from the rain
of heaven you will drink water. (Deuteronomy 11:10-11)
The land of Egypt, where rainfall is quite infrequent, was and still
is totally dependent on the Nile River for its water. In ancient times,
the Egyptians would irrigate their fields by forcing the Nile’s water
“with their feet” into irrigation canals that would either carry the
water directly to the fields or to higher places closer to the fields
which could then be irrigated by hand. Even today satellite photos
dramatically show the Nile’s importance to Egypt as the areas near
the Nile are green with vegetation and the surrounding areas are
parched and brown. The Land of Israel, which has only one large
body of fresh water, is a completely different story. It was, and still
remains, dependent on rainfall. Significantly, Israel’s dependence
on rainfall and God’s promise that rain would fall from the heavens
appear immediately before the verse quoted in the previous section
that stresses how God constantly keeps his eyes on the Land.
The second mention of rain in the portion comes shortly after these
verses and is in the section commonly known as the second paragraph
of Shema. This paragraph is recited twice daily during prayers:
It will be that if you hearken to My commandments
that I command you today, to love God, your God, and
to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,
then I shall provide rain for your land in its proper time,
the early and the late rains, that you may gather in your
grain, your wine, and your oil. I shall provide grass in
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