Ekev (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25) 
 
  Divinity, Down and Dirty

From the Weekly Parsha Column on www.KabbalaOnline.org, Ascent Lights, Contemporary illuminations from the director of Ascent-of-Safed.

By Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter 

This week's  Torah portion begins "Ekev tishma'un". "Tishma'un" means "you will hear". "Ekev" literally means "heel", the lowest part of the body. The verse has a dual meaning. First, that just like the heel is the end of the body, so also, in the "end" we will hear the message that G-d is trying to communicate to us - that He wants us to serve Him. The second meaning is that this message will permeate our entire being, even to the coarse heel.

" we have to know that it is part illusion...." 
 
The  Rebbe Rayatz connects this to our generation, which is called "'ikveta d'meshicha" - "the heel of  Mashiach". We are the very last of all the generations of exile. And also we are the lowliest of all the generations in spiritual strength.

The Rebbe writes that the message to us, as the "heel of Mashiach", is to know that we are like the heel! What relationship does a heel have with wisdom, with high and sophisticated ideas? Yes, we study Torah, and we even get excited about the amazing ideas we learn, but we have to know that it is part illusion - that on an essential level as the lowest and least of all of the generations, true wisdom is far from us. A heel is not connected to wisdom. A heel has to know that what is most important is to DO. Our goal is to act!

" The more divine light we bring into the world, the more of the negative we can push away...." 
 
Yet, even if we are the lowest generation, just as the whole body is supported by the heel, so all of the previous generations are dependent upon us, since it is our efforts that will bring Mashiach! Nevertheless, the heel is closest to the ground, always in danger of becoming dirty or collecting negative influences through involvement in the physical world. This is the reason we constantly need to redouble our efforts to physically involve ourselves with holiness. The more divine light we bring into the world, the more of the negative we can push away.

We see this duality of humility and great purpose at the end of the Torah portion. Usually there are seven segments read from the Torah portion, and then an eighth, called "maftir", which repeats that last few verses read from the seventh segment. Maftir is considered to be the lowest of all the segments, therefore the Talmud (Megilla 23a) and Jewish law say that maftir may be given to a child, hence the custom to give it to Bar Mitzvah boys. In parashat Ekev, the seventh segment read describes how performing G-d's will guarantees our strength. It is a phenomenal call to action and very empowering. And yet, unusually, the maftir of Ekev is a repeat of all the verses from the seventh segment read. The lowest, maftir, is a repeat of some of the portions most powerful verses - demonstrating the duality of humility and strength.

In parashat Ekev, the lesson is for us to "Hear" G-d's message, and then no obstacle will be able to stand before us. Success is guaranteed! The second lesson is to be like a humble heel. May we all actualize both humility and great purpose together in our lives!

Shabbat Shalom, Shaul

Reprinted with permission from www.KabbalaOnline.org and www.AscentofSafed.com. To learn more about Kabbalistic and Chasidic perspectives on the Torah, please visit their sites.