From the Heel Up

The word עקב represents that which is figuratively low and as Rashi states at the start of Parsha...דש בעקביו; the relatively light Mitzvos that one tramples on. This is shown to us in the following:

• עקב is a heel, the lowest part of the body.
• עקיבאר' is rooted in the term עקב since he came from a humble, low beginning.
• The name Yakov is also rooted in עקב as this is what he was called before he overcame the Malach of Esav which elevated his status.
• Our generation- the lowest- is called עקבתא דמשיחא.

Although this is the lowest of generations, it is the one that brings Moshiach forth. One reason given why Moshiach hasn’t come yet is so that there should be more Baalai Teshuva. Thus, it says at the outset of our Parsha-והיה עקב תשמעון- the generation of עקבתא דמשיחא should listen to the Mitzvos and do Teshuva, thereby bringing Moshiach.