Ekev; Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Our Torah Portion is concerned with the rewards of the living a life of the covenant. If the Israelites fulfill the terms of the covenant, eschew idolatry; keep the commandments then all of the promises God has made to the Israelites will be fulfilled. The land flowing with milk and honey will be theirs for an everlasting possession. The Children of Israel will know prosperity, fertility, and wealth if they follow the covenant made at Sinai. Chapter 8 verse 18 is explicit, “Remember that it is Adonai your God who gives you the power to get wealth, in fulfillment of the covenant that God made on oath with your ancestors, as is still the case.” Moses emphasizes the eternality of the covenant—although made with the previous generation—is still in force.

This verse is particularly important in our own day and time when the pursuit of wealth and power seems to be the goal of our society. Everyone is engaged in getting ahead and getting a piece of the pie. But the recent court cases against corporate CEO’s such as Kenneth Lay, Andrew and Lea Fastow, John Rigas and his sons Timothy, L. Dennis Kozlowski of Tyco who have defined this most recent era of the pursuit of wealth and greed at the expense of the employees, the investors, and ultimately American business community are symptomatic of the greed the besets our society. Their vicious pursuit of multi-million dollar theft that lined their own pockets while raping the very companies that paid them is no less idolatry than bowing down to wooden or ceramic statues. Their collective behavior destroys the fabric of our society, eats away at our economic health, and devours any sense of ethics and justice. Their actions contribute to the growing gap between the working class and the poor and the wealthiest Americans. Their actions show disdain for everyone else, a sense of entitlement writ so large that it borders on megalomania.

Management guru Jim Collins calls it the "winner-takes-all society." We've lost all perspective, he says, "when you have sports agents representing CEOs" in contract talks.

Our Torah portion is a steady reminder that all really belongs to God. God is after all Creator of Everything. Money and wealth is but a tool that God lends to us. This is why the Jewish emphasis on tzedakah is so paramount. The wealth that God shares with us and lends to us must be shared and lent to others. We have a responsibility to care for others with God’s wealth!

Perhaps if all of the recently indicted and sentenced CEO’s would have remembered this verse from Deuteronomy, they would still be steering their companies to greater successes.

This verse from the parasha is a good reminder, to keep God and the covenant in our mind and that our fulfillment of the covenant will indeed bring us riches way beyond monetary rewards but a spiritual fulfillment that brings the greatest gift of all—Shalom—peace of mind and heart.

Posted by Lee at August 5, 2004 12:31 PM