Parshat Ekev, Deuteronomy 7:12 -11:25

This week’s Torah portion, Ekev, offers the children of Israel strong parenting advice. Moses is continuing his address and counsel to the People of Israel before his death. He has so much to share with them. He is trying to impress upon them their need to be loyal to the covenant and to keep far away from idolatry even as the encounter new people in the Promised Land and begin to settle there.

In this week’s portion, Moses reminds the Children of Israel that their example will matter. He exhorts the community beginning in chapter 11, “Love therefore Adonai your God and always keep God’s charge, God’s laws, God’s rules and God’s commandments” (Deut. 11:1). But Moses is keenly aware that this isn’t only because it will bring reward or satisfaction to the adult generation. But more importantly it is a teaching to be passed to future generations. Moses continues, “Take thought this day that it was not your children, who neither experienced nor witnessed the lesson of Adonai your God- God’s majesty, God’s might hand, God’s outstretched arm; the signs and the deeds performed in Egypt against Pharaoh king of Egypt and all his land…but it was you who saw with your own eyes all the marvelous deeds that Adonai performed.”(Deut. 11:2-7).

Moses wants this generation to be cognizant that future generations will not have the benefit of first hand encounters with the great miracles performed by God that helped to imbue Israel with faith and courage. Ironically, some of the things pointed to by Moses in his oration here were also not experienced by those listening. One of the reasons for waiting 40 years to enter was to have the generation who sided with the spies and their lies and fears about conquering the Promised Land (See parshat Shelach-Lecha in Numbers) die out and be replaced by a new generation. So some of these events would also not have been witnessed by those he is addressing. But there are still some survivors who were witness to the events including the new leader of the people Joshua Ben Nun.

His very life gives testimony to the events that occurred. Not unlike the survivors of the Holocaust today. Even though their numbers shrink daily because of their age and death, any survivor that remains is miraculous testimony especially against those who would deny the Holocaust ever happened.

And Moses continues to offer parenting advice: “Therefore impress these My words upon your very heart; bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead and teach them to your children…to the end that you and your children may endure in the land that Adonai swore to your ancestors to give to them as long as there is a heaven over the earth” (Deut. 11:18-21).

What we teach and what we say and what we do is the most potent example for our children. They learn directly from us. Not just by our words but by our deeds. Not only through the stories we tell them but how we live. Moses wants us to build a future in the new land for the Israelites but it doesn’t stop with the generation who will conquer the land but this is an eternal inheritance meant for the future.

It is no different today. The traditions and our Torah and the Land of Israel is our eternal inheritance. What we do matters and how we live matters not only in the cosmic realm but in the earthly realm for future generations. All too often most of us do not examine the consequences of our decisions and the impact that it will have on future generations of our family, our children and the Jewish people. Moses wants us to consider this. Not just for the generation about to cross over. But it is apt advice for us. If we are to endure as a people, love God and pass that love on to your children, your nieces and nephews and the people you meet each and every day.

Posted by Eric at August 3, 2009 11:02 AM