The second word of the parashah—ekev, from which the portion takes its name, seems innocuous enough. At first glance, it simply means “as a result of” or “because.” Yet, as is often the case in the Torah, this seemingly ordinary word inspired an extraordinary rabbinic debate over the value of mitzvot – commandments whose implications extend to every aspect of how we lead our lives.

As is well known, the sages understood one hallmark of the Torah’s divine nature to be what biblical scholar James Kugel calls its “omni-significance”, the conviction that every single word carries layers of meaning far beyond its peshat, or plain sense. In this instance, because the word ekev also translates as “heel,” the rabbis offered an alternative reading of the opening verse:

“And it shall come about because (ekev) you heed these laws and faithfully observe them, that the Lord your God will maintain for you the covenant and steadfast love that He swore to your ancestors.” (Deuteronomy 7:12)

On its surface, the verse expresses a familiar biblical principle: our actions have consequences, and faithfulness to God’s commandments yields divine blessing. This straightforward idea reflects how most people approach daily life. We naturally seek to invest our time and energy where........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)