This week’s parsha, Aikev, continues with Moshe’s exhortations to Klal Yisroel to adhere to the Torah and to maintain that special relationship with Hashem. “V’hayah aikev tishm’un (7:12)”. The Targum explains ‘aikev’ to mean in exchange. In exchange for your observing the laws, Hashem will fulfill the covenant made with the Avos.
Rashi, however, offers a different explanation. ‘Aikev’ can also mean a heel. If those light/easy mitzvos that a person tramples with his heel will be observed... Which tread upon mitzvos is Rashi referring to? The Kli Yakar understands it to mean the ‘chukim’. Those mitzvos whose understanding was never revealed to us. The nations scorn our observance of these seemingly irrational mitzvos and that causes us to treat them lightly and to trample upon them.
Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, explains differently. Our day-to-day encounters offer many opportunities for mitzvos that are often trampled underfoot in our pursuit of the ‘big things’ in life. No matter how we personally define the ‘big things’, be it spiritual pursuits or materialistic pursuits, simple kindness and manners are often overlooked. As a pole vaulter who, while focusing on the high bar, overlooks the stone which, by tripping him, never allows him to reach that bar.
He writes that it is actually these seemingly insignificant encounters which ultimately define who this person truly is. Chazal teach us that two of our greatest leaders, Moshe and Dovid HaMelech, were tested as shepherds! If one tends sheep with diligence, concern and honesty, one will also tend a nation in such a fashion. Furthermore, the habits and foundations that one lays down in the ‘light’ matters carry through to the ‘heavier’ matters. We recently witnessed how, a person who had never learned self control in his youth, could ruin his future and lose tens of millions of dollars by taking an uninvited bite from an ear!
The small things that we tread upon... A friend of mine once asked his parents for the key to their successful marriage. “We always say please and thank you to each other.” We are so careful to be polite with strangers and acquaintances but how are we with our parents/spouses/children? Are we willing to jump to help someone else, but a bit slow to finally take out the garbage? Would a Jew’s tears inspire us to do whatever we can to help, while we kvetch about bringing a drink to a child in the middle of the night? Isn’t that also an opportunity to help a person in distress?
The small things that we tread upon... The gemara (Berachos) discusses stealing from a poor person. What can one actually steal from one who has nothing? Not greeting him with a hello! That’s all he has and you took it away from him! How much pain do we unknowingly cause?
The Mishna in Avos asks “what is the path that a person should cling to?” One of the answers is shachein tov- be a good neighbor! The quest was for a path to bring one close to his Creator, to allow him to fulfill the purpose of being sent to this physical world. The answer is to be a good neighbor, Statefarm!?!? Yes!!! A high percentage of our dealings involve our neighbors. If we are careful, helpful and considerate with our neighbors, we train ourselves to be people who are all of the above and in control of ourselves.
That is the path that a person should choose in order to accomplish his lofty purpose in this world. “Aikev!”, Moshe warns Bnei Yisroel. Don’t trample on the seemingly insignificant, because your relationship with Hashem is based on that!
