Eikev

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Eikev resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

Eikev: Time for Awe

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the primary goals of the Torah is the inducement of fear of heaven. “Now what does Hashem, your G-d ask of you? Only to fear Hashem your G-d, to walk in all his ways and to love him” (Devarim 10:12). For one who is blessed with truly having…
Article
Aug 4, 2023

Eikev: The Big Bribe

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The measure of a human being is revealed by the little things. The greater the person, the more one understands the significance of the small details, not just the “big picture.” Rav Yochanan ben Zakkai, who was busy worrying about how Judaism could…
Article
Aug 19, 2022

Eikev: Missing Commandments

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Had things gone according to plan, the chumash would be a much shorter book. If not for the sin of the golden calf, there would have been no need for a second set of tablets; and there would have been, at least according to Rashi (Shemot 31:18), no…
Article
Jul 30, 2021

Eikev: 100 Streams

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"And now, Israel, what does G-d, Ma Hashem, want from you but just to fear the Lord your G-d, to walk in all His ways, to love Him and to worship the Lord your G-d with all your heart and all your soul" (Devarim 10:12). in a seemingly…
Article
Aug 7, 2020

Eikev: A Long Journey

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"According to the days that you spent exploring the land, forty days, a year for a day, you shall carry your sin and you will know My actions" (Bamidbar 14:34). The sin of rejecting the land of Israel was not easily forgiven and forty days…
Article
Aug 23, 2019

Eikev: Lots of Love

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The Talmud declares that wisdom depends on the ability to make distinctions. It is for this reason that havdalah, the ritual marking the end of the distinctive Shabbat day, is recited in the blessing beseeching G-d for wisdom (Brachot 33a). The…
Article
Aug 26, 2016

Eikev: A Little Humility

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Moshe Rabbeinu was a most humble person. We know this because the Torah tells us so, the only trait of Moshe that the Torah actually enumerates. But we also know this as we read, week in and week out, how Moshe constantly put the needs of others…
Article
Aug 7, 2015

Eikev: Pain and Gain

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“And they placed upon them taskmasters lema’an anoto, in order to afflict them in their burdens” (Shemot 1:11). This inuei, affliction is the first act  of the Egyptians once they made the decision to enslave the Jewish people. To afflict people and…
Article
Aug 15, 2014

Eikev: Fear of G-d

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Effort vs. result. The relative value of these two concepts is a fundamental dispute between our western worldview and Jewish teachings. The secular world is, as it must be, bottom-line oriented. From a Jewish perspective, it is effort, not result,…
Article
Jul 26, 2013

Eikev: The Sweat of Your Brow

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Raising an independent nation is no easy task. The generation that left Egypt was (understandably) not up to the task. Whether or not their children would be was something of an open question. Moshe spends almost the entire book of Devarim preparing…
Article
Aug 10, 2012