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Parshas Ekev 073110:
Rabbi Adir Posy
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There is a lot of talk these days about investment strategies. Lately, most of them include putting cash under a mattress, but in general you find that there is a classification of investors in terms of their willingness to accept risk. Some people look for conserva-tive and low risk ventures, while others will be more willing to put everything on the line in search of that big score. What you may not have realized is that Rashi in this week’s Parsha ad-dresses these same two attitudes re-garding religious observance – spiritual investing if you will. The Pasuk in the beginning of the Parsha highlights what appears to be a quid pro quo – we listen to G-d’ com-mandments and he provides us with bounty and sustenance. But the word the Torah uses is "Ei-kev" and Rashi explains that this word (which means heel) refers to those mitzvot that are easy to fulfill, and yet often get trampled under our heel. It is those mitzvoth that are the key to the rewards promised in the continuation of the Parsha. The reason why the Torah formulated it in this way was to send a message to those who follow a high flying spiritual investment strategy, looking only for the difficult and "big deal" mitzvoth while being willing to let the small and easy ones fall by the wayside. And many commentaries explain that what we are dealing with is a funda-mental point that the Torah is making about human nature. Often people thrive on confrontation and difficulty; we shine the brightest when we rise to the occasion. So per-haps one might think, I will struggle and grapple with all of the things that are difficult for me, and that is how I will get closer to G-d. The lesson of this week’s Parsha is that people mature and grow in a va-riety of ways. Sometimes it is the crisis moments when we have that flash of lightning that changes everything. The Google IPO of spirituality. The time we are so con-flicted, in such dire straits, and we hope somehow to rise to the challenge. However, we also mature through steady and gradual osmosis, naturally absorbing from our environs, and harmoniously incorporating life's les-sons into the way we live. And this Parsha is telling is that waiting for that flash at the expense of our daily observance and values is a flawed investment strategy. Thank G-d we live in a world in which we can grow without having to fight all the time. We have the opportunity to love a lifestyle where we have oppor-tunities day in and day out to practice kindness, to follow halacha, to enhance our community, without sacrificing everything that is important to us. Thank G-d we have the opportunity to live an everyday Kiddush Hashem, whether at home, at work, in shul or in the outside world. And yes, struggle and crisis are often a test of who we are, but the times that we are not in crisis, are just as much if not more of a test of who we can be. Rabbi Adir Posy
Assistant Director,
Orthodox Union-West Coast
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