One of the most important moments in Jewish history, occurred following the destruction of the First Temple and the exile to Babylon. The exiles, looking at the situation they found themselves in, not unreasonably concluded that the covenant between themselves and G-d was finished. The Torah threatens that if the Jews don’t follow the Torah they will be cast off by G-d and exiled from the Land. That is what had happened, and so the Jews were now like all other nations, with no special relationship to G-d. G-d, however, thought otherwise. Whether, they liked it or not, they are told by the prophet Ezekiel, the covenant is still in force and G-d will be king over them, even in exile. This moment turned the Jewish people from a normal historical nation into an eternal people that would never disappear. We have echoes of this idea in our Parshah. Moses tells the people that they are really not deserving of G-d’s concern and ever since he has known them, they have been a bunch of troublemakers. Yet in spite of the fact that they are a stiff necked people, G-d still forgives them and carries on. When begging for them not to be destroyed after the sin of the Golden Calf, Moses uses the argument that such an action will diminish G-d’s Name. For better or for worse, the Jews are tied up with G-d, and His behaviour towards us, no less than our behaviour towards Him, impact on world public opinion. In short, we are stuck with each other. We cannot abandon G-d and G-d cannot abandon us. Yet our Haftorah takes this idea a step further. Our relationship to G-d is not merely covenantal but personal and familial. When Zion complains that G-d has forgotten and abandoned her, G-d replies that this is impossible. Just as a mother cannot forget her child, so can G-d not forget or abandon Israel. More than an agreement still in force, our relationship with G-d is one of a parent to a child. A parent may be angry with and punish a child. They may even find it necessary to temporarily chuck them out. But they can never severe the basic blood relationship that binds them. So, G-d is always with us, even when it seems He has hidden His face. It is this message that has sustained the Jewish people through the millennia, and it is this idea that is just as relevant today. Whatever vicissitudes we face, we need to know that G-d has not abandoned us. It is that promise that has made us eternal, and it is that assurance that gives us hope for tomorrow.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

Rishon	The rewards of obedience to the Torah.
Sheni	Don‘t forget G-d because of prosperity.
Shelishi	Moses reminds the people how they rebelled against G-d: the sin of the Golden Calf.
Revi’i	G-d forgives the people and gives the Second Tablets.
Chamishi	The people should remember G-d‘s kindness to them.
Shishi	The uniqueness of the Land of Israel. Prosperity depends on obedience to G-d.
Shevi’i	G-d will help them conquer the nations of Canaan.
Haftorah	Isaiah: 49;14-51;3: Zion’s children will return.

 

Sidra Statistics

Parshat Ekev

·               has 111 verses;

·               is the 3rd in Deuteronomy,  46th  in the Torah

·               4th  longest in Deuteronomy,  27th  longest  in the Torah   

·               has  6 pos +  2 neg =  8  mitzvot.