In this week’s Parsha, an uncommon word, “Eikev,” is used to say “because.” Rashi explains that this refers to seemingly less important mitzvahs that get trampled under the Eikev (the heel). That “because” we will listen and do those mitzvahs, we will be blessed with a whole list of blessings, including miraculous victories over those we fear.
What is the connection between these mitzvahs and miracles?
When thinking of mitzvahs, there are the ones we see as important. We focus our energy on those while other mitzvahs end up trampled under our heels. Our yetzer hora, evil inclination, convinces us that it makes sense to focus on these while pushing off the others.
The idea of Eikev is to take a different approach to mitzvahs. To defy our yetzer hora and do the mitzvahs because they are Hashem’s will. Then all mitzvahs are seen as equal. We do them because we are believers, children of believers. It is accepting beyond our mind’s understanding.
When we take this approach toward Hashem and mitzvahs, going beyond our understanding and doing His will, He, in turn, goes beyond the natural order to treat us to miracles.
Here is what we could do to help our brothers and sisters all over the world and especially in Israel. By taking on those mitzvahs that we routinely push off using logical arguments. Doing them only because Hashem wants us to.
Watching the soldiers in Israel, dancing together, more observant and less observant together, singing, “We are believers, the children of believers.” It warms my heart because I know that we are in good hands, Hashem’s.
