Eikev
עקבBread from Heaven
73 translated essays · 73 total
תרל"א(1870)
Light Mitzvos Reveal Hashem· Essay 1
In the Midrash it states: a Menorah made of joined segments, and so on. The Sfas Emes opens by citing the Midrash that the Menorah was formed of joined segments, hinting that holiness comes from connecting separate parts into one whole. And…
Drawing Life From Mitzvos· Essay 2
In the Midrash Tanchuma it is taught: "The entire mitzvah" — "they are life to those who find them" (Mishlei 4:22) — if you have begun a mitzvah, complete it. The Sfas Emes opens with the Midrash's teaching that mitzvos are a source of life…
Earning Shabbos Rest Through Emunah· Essay 3
"A rest of love and willing offering... a rest of truth and faith..." (from the Shabbos Minchah tefillah). The Sfas Emes opens by citing the words of the Shabbos Minchah tefillah, which describe the Shabbos rest with the phrases "love and w…
Eikev תרל"א
תרל”א במדרש מנורה של חוליות כו’. וברש”י ממד’ תנחומא עון עקבי יסובני כו’ בשמרם עקב רב. מה רב טובך כו’ במצוה קלה שאדם דש כו’. The Midrash (Devarim Rabbah 3:1, Explaining the first pasuk “And if you ob…
תרל"ב(1871)
Shabbos Reveals Inner Will· Essay 1
In the Midrash, the expression: a person from Bnei Yisrael who has a menorah composed of jointed sections, etc. The Sfas Emes opens by citing a Midrash that compares a Jew to a menorah built of separate, jointed pieces that can be assembled…
Bitachon Despite Honest Fear· Essay 2
My grandfather, my master and teacher, of blessed memory, explained the meaning of the verse, "When you will say in your heart, 'These nations are more numerous than I; how can I drive them out?'" (Devarim 7:17). The Sfas Emes opens by citi…
Yirah Unlocks Divine Concealment· Essay 3
"What does Hashem ask of you... only to fear..." (Devarim 10:12). The verse asks seemingly only one thing of a person, namely yiras Shamayim, and the Sfas Emes opens by highlighting this. This is so even though the verse goes on to enumerat…
תרל"ג(1872)
Serving Hashem Through Truth· Essay 1
Rashi explains that the word 'eikev' ('heel') alludes to the lighter mitzvos, which a person tends to trample under his heel, and the Midrash Tanchuma on the verse 'in observing them there is great reward (eikev rav)' connects this to the v…
Accepting Kingship Before Mitzvos· Essay 2
In the parsha of "Vehayah im shamo'a" (the second paragraph of Shema), the phrase "with all your might" (b'chol me'odecha) is not mentioned. The Sfas Emes notes that unlike the first paragraph of Shema, which says to love Hashem "with all y…
Elevating This World· Essay 3
It is brought down in the Gemara that many tried to act in the way of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, yet it did not succeed in their hands. The Gemara contrasts two approaches: many who tried to devote themselves entirely to Torah in the manner o…
תרל"ד(1873)
Recording What Remains· Essay 1
With the help of Hashem. Eikev. I have forgotten much; only the little that I managed to recall [is set down here]. This is the author's own brief introductory note for the divrei Torah on Parshas Eikev, in which the Sfas Emes humbly remark…
Lighter Mitzvos As Foundation· Essay 2
Rashi explains that the parsha opens with the words "and it will be eikev (because) you heed" — referring to those lighter mitzvos that a person tramples with his heel (eikev). Rashi reads the word eikev (heel) in the opening verse as a hin…
Guarding The Lighter Mitzvos· Essay 3
And in the Midrash Tanchuma it is brought that Dovid HaMelech took pride, as it says, "They are more desirable than gold..." (Tehillim 19:11), and "Also Your servant is careful in them; in observing them there is great reward (eikev)" (Tehi…
תרל"ה(1874)
Emunah Strengthens Heavenly Mercy· Essay 1
"And it shall be, because (eikev) you will heed these laws... Hashem your God will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers" (Devarim 7:12) — and this is difficult to understand: why does the verse n…
Completing The Mitzvah Properly· Essay 2
I have forgotten the opening of this discourse. The Sfas Emes notes that he no longer recalls how this particular piece originally opened. But as for the conclusion of the matter, one may explain the verse "Eikev tishme'un" ("And it shall b…
Remembrance Awakens Redemption· Essay 3
On the verse "When you will say in your heart, these nations are more numerous than I" (Devarim 7:17), Rashi explains the word "ki" in the sense of "perhaps you will say." Rashi reads the opening "ki" of the verse as introducing a hesitatio…
Two Doorways Of Comprehension· Essay 4
"And it shall be, if you will surely listen..." (Devarim 11:13). The Sfas Emes opens with the verse from the second paragraph of Shema, which begins with a doubled expression of listening. For it is written, "to be diligent at My doors" (Mi…
תרל"ז(1876)
תרל"ח(1877)
Reward Through Completed Perfection· Essay 1
The Midrash teaches regarding a menorah made of separate sections that it is forbidden to assemble it on Shabbos, and so forth, saying, "For your benefit I gave you the Shabbos," and so forth; and that the reward for mitzvos lies in what is…
Manna And Creation's Roots· Essay 2
Regarding the verse, "And He fed you the manna... so that He could make known to you that man does not live by bread alone" (Devarim 8:3). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk about the manna, which teaches that man's true sustenance is not p…
Yiras Shamayim Opens Blessing· Essay 3
On the verse, "And now, Bnei Yisrael, what does Hashem ask of you..." (Devarim 10:12), the Gemara asks the question and answers that He asks of you only that you should have yiras Shamayim — fear of Heaven. The pasuk says Hashem asks only o…
תרל"ט(1878)
Shabbos Foretaste Of Reward· Essay 1
In the Midrash: "His reward is in the heel (eikev)..." The Midrash opens by reading the parsha's name "Eikev" as "heel," hinting that reward is held back, hidden at the very end like the heel of the foot. I have already written elsewhere th…
Multiplication As Spiritual Elevation· Essay 2
The pasuk states, "And He will multiply you, and He will bless the fruit of your womb" (Devarim 7:13). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that promises both that Hashem will multiply Bnei Yisrael and that He will bless the fruit of their wo…
Merit Of The Avos· Essay 3
On the pasuk, "Do not say in your heart... it is because of the wickedness of these nations..." (Devarim 9:4). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk in which Moshe Rabbeinu warns Bnei Yisrael not to attribute their entry into the Land to their…
תר"מ(1879)
Opening Heading For Eikev· Essay 1
With the help of Heaven. Parshas Eikev, in brief. This is the opening heading of the piece, invoking Heaven's assistance and noting that the divrei Torah on Parshas Eikev that follow are recorded in a condensed, abbreviated form. Summary: T…
Three Avos Three Levels· Essay 2
"And it shall be, because (eikev) you will hearken... and you shall guard and you shall do" (Devarim 7:12). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that promises blessing in the merit of hearkening to, guarding, and performing the mitzvos. This …
Renewing Mattan Torah Daily· Essay 3
On the pasuk "And it shall be, if you surely listen" (Devarim 11:13). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk in Eikev that promises reward if Bnei Yisrael will truly listen to the mitzvos. Rashi explains "if you listen" to mean: if you listen t…
תרמ"א(1880)
תרמ"ב(1881)
Shabbos as Olam Haba· Essay 1
In the Midrash there is the parable of the menorah composed of segments, and so forth. The Sfas Emes opens by citing a Midrash that uses the image of a menorah made of separate segments as a starting point for the discussion. The reason tha…
Daily Renewal Through Yearning· Essay 2
On the pasuk, "And it shall be, if you surely listen to My mitzvos" (Devarim 11:13). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk in Eikev that promises blessing when Bnei Yisrael truly listen to Hashem's mitzvos. Rashi explains: if you listen to the…
Mitzvos As Path To Love· Essay 3
And it is written, "to love Hashem..." (Devarim 11:13); Rashi explains that one should not say, "I will learn in order to receive reward..." The verse commands us to love Hashem, and Rashi warns against serving Him merely to collect reward.…
תרמ"ג(1882)
Weekdays Building Toward Shabbos· Essay 1
In the Midrash it is taught that the menorah was made of sections (a menorah constructed from separate joints), and so forth. The Midrash compares the menorah to something assembled from separate sections joined together, which the Sfas Eme…
Earning Reward Through Yearning· Essay 2
"And it will be, because (eikev) you will listen... Hashem your God will safeguard (the covenant and the kindness)" (Devarim 7:12). The pasuk that opens the parsha promises that Hashem will safeguard His covenant and kindness as a consequen…
Mitzvos As Heavenly Channels· Essay 3
The pasuk states, "For the land... is not like the land of Mitzrayim... where you would sow your seed... and water it with your foot like a vegetable garden" (Devarim 11:10), implying that Eretz Yisrael is different. The Sfas Emes opens wit…
תרמ"ד(1883)
תרמ"ה(1884)
Shabbos Foundation Of Oneness· Essay 1
In the Midrash: It is forbidden to assemble the branches of the Menorah on Shabbos, for this is akin to building, and building is forbidden, and so forth. Do you imagine that I gave you the Shabbos for your detriment? I gave it to you only …
Land Drawn From Heaven· Essay 2
On the pasuk, "For the land into which you are coming... is not like the land of Mitzrayim... where you would sow your seed... and water it by foot like a vegetable garden" (Devarim 11:10). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that contrasts …
תרמ"ו(1885)
Clarifying Good Before Shabbos· Essay 1
The Midrash teaches: "For your benefit I gave you the Shabbos," etc. The Sfas Emes opens with the Midrash that Hashem gave Bnei Yisrael Shabbos as a gift for their own benefit. He will now unpack what that benefit consists of. For Shabbos i…
Livelihood Drawn Through Mitzvos· Essay 2
In Parshas Eikev it says, "For the land to which you are coming... is not like the land of Egypt... where you would water it with your foot" (Devarim 11:10-11). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that contrasts Eretz Yisrael with Egypt, whe…
תרמ"ז(1886)
Shabbos Unifying The Weekdays· Essay 1
In the Midrash there is the image of the Menorah, composed of distinct sections, and so forth. The Sfas Emes opens by citing the Midrash that likens something to the Menorah, which is built of distinct parts, setting up his comparison of th…
Eternal Gifts For Generations· Essay 2
My grandfather, my teacher, of blessed memory, spoke on the verse "Not because of your righteousness etc." (Devarim 9:5). The Sfas Emes opens by citing his grandfather's teaching on the verse that the Land was not given to Bnei Yisrael on a…
Awakening The Hidden Light· Essay 3
In the section dealing with yiras Shamayim, the Torah says, "Behold, to Hashem your God belong the heavens etc." — yet "only in your forefathers etc." did Hashem desire, and therefore "you shall circumcise etc." The Sfas Emes opens with the…
Choosing Fear Of Heaven· Essay 4
On the verse "What does Hashem your God ask of you" (Devarim 10:12), Chazal expounded: "Everything is in the hands of Heaven except for the fear of Heaven." The verse asks what Hashem requests of us, and the Gemara teaches that everything i…
תרמ"ח(1887)
תרמ"ט(1888)
Revealing Food's Inner Nourishment· Essay 1
Regarding the mitzvah of Birkas HaMazon, the Torah says, "And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless" (Devarim 8:10), and so on. The Sfas Emes opens with the mitzvah of Birkas HaMazon, derived from the verse that we are to eat, be satisfi…
Eretz Yisrael As Gift· Essay 2
In the Midrash on "Shema Yisrael" (Hear, O Yisrael), this is the meaning of the verse, "With our ears we have heard" (Tehillim 44:2). The Sfas Emes opens by citing the Midrash on "Shema Yisrael," which links it to the verse in Tehillim, "Wi…
תרנ"א(1890)
Shabbos Tasting Olam Haba· Essay 1
In the Midrash: "For your own benefit I have given you the Shabbos" — you eat and drink and take delight in it, and moreover, "And I give you reward"; "From their fruits you eat in this world, and their principal reward is reserved for the …
Earning Eretz Yisrael Ourselves· Essay 2
The Midrash teaches on the verse "Shema Yisrael, you are crossing over today the Yarden" (Devarim 9:1) and continues: when you spoiled matters through the sin of the Golden Calf with the words "Naaseh, we will do" (Shemos 24:7), Hashem warn…
Rising Above Time· Essay 3
In the Midrash: at that time Hashem said, 'Carve out for yourself' the Luchos — and this is connected to the verse 'There is a season and a time for everything' (Koheles 3:1), 'a time to cast away stones,' which alludes to the breaking of t…
תרנ"ב(1891)
Bitachon in Times of Tranquility· Essay 1
Regarding the pasuk, "When you will say in your heart, 'These nations are more numerous than I,' do not fear them... you shall surely remember what Hashem your God did..." (Devarim 7:17-18), and likewise in the parshiyos that follow, where …
Refining Nourishment Through Torah· Essay 2
On the pasuk "And He afflicted you... and fed you the mann... that man does not live by bread alone" (Devarim 8:3). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk describing how Hashem afflicted Bnei Yisrael and fed them mann, teaching that man does no…
תרנ"ג(1892)
Shabbos Inner Divine Oneness· Essay 1
In the Midrash it is taught that a menorah made of detachable parts may not be assembled on Shabbos. The matter is as follows: the Holy One, Blessed is He, conducts the world through the way of nature, in a constriction of many gradations, …
Daily Renewal Through Letters· Essay 2
In Parshas Eikev, on the verse "And it shall be, if you will surely hearken" (Devarim 11:13). The Sfas Emes opens on the verse that begins the second paragraph of Shema, where Bnei Yisrael are charged to listen to Hashem's mitzvos. Rashi ci…
תרנ"ו(1895)
Extending Torah To The Heel· Essay 1
"And it shall be, eikev (because) you hearken" (Devarim 7:12) — Rashi, and likewise the Midrash, explains this to refer to the lighter mitzvos that a person tramples with his heel (akeiv). The pasuk uses the word eikev (heel), and Rashi and…
Purity Of Eretz Yisrael· Essay 2
In the Midrash, on the verse "the fruit of your womb and your land" (Devarim 28:11), the Midrash juxtaposes "the fruit of your womb" with "the fruit of your land" — teaching that just as the fruit of the land has in it no sin or transgressi…
Refining the Body for Yirah· Essay 3
In the Medrash on the verse "Shema Yisrael" it is expounded: "Ehad" — He passes [over the transgressions] etc.; you ruined matters with "Naaseh" (we will do), so be careful with "Nishma" (we will hear) — see there. The Medrash reads the She…
תרנ"ח(1897)
Eikev — Opening· Essay 1
With the help of Heaven. The author’s traditional opening invocation at the start of Parshas Eikev.
Mitzvos Connecting To Olam Haba· Essay 2
What is written beforehand? "And you shall know that Hashem, your God, He is the God, the faithful One, who guards the covenant and the kindness for those who love Him and keep His mitzvos" (Devarim 7:9). The Sfas Emes opens with the preced…
Tzaddikim Unlocking Stored Kindness· Essay 3
And in the Midrash he brings, on the pasuk "the faithful God" (Devarim 7:9), the story of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair—see there. It appears that the meaning of "who guards the covenant and the kindness" is that those who love Him, the tzaddikim,…
Land Transforms Curse Into Blessing· Essay 4
On the pasuk, "And you shall bless Hashem your G-d for the good land" (Devarim 8:10) and so forth. The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that commands us to bless Hashem for the good land after eating. Chazal said that Moshe Rabbeinu institute…
Love Through Resembling Hashem· Essay 5
In the parsha of "And it will be, if you surely listen... to love... and to serve Him with all your heart" (Devarim 11:13). The Sfas Emes opens with the verse from this week's parsha that joins listening to Hashem with loving Him and servin…
תרנ"ט(1898)
Blessing Untouched By Evil· Essay 1
On the pasuk, "For Hashem your God is bringing you to a good land... a land in which you will eat bread without scarceness... a land whose stones are iron" (Devarim 8:7-9). The Sfas Emes opens with the Torah's description of Eretz Yisrael a…
Yirah Unlocks Inner Dveikus· Essay 2
On the pasuk, "And now, Bnei Yisrael, what does Hashem your God ask of you... but to fear" (Devarim 10:12). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk in which Moshe Rabbeinu tells Bnei Yisrael that the one thing Hashem asks of them is to have yira…
Love And Fear In Entering· Essay 3
"And now, Bnei Yisrael" (Devarim 10:12) — for the generation of the wilderness stood on the level of ahavas Hashem, the love of Hashem, and when they were about to enter Eretz Yisrael, Moshe Rabbeinu warned them concerning yiras Shamayim, t…
Two Levels Of Shema· Essay 4
In the passage beginning "And it shall be, if you hearken (to My commandments)... that you shall gather in your grain" (Devarim 11:13-14). The Sfas Emes opens with the Torah's promise that hearkening to the mitzvos leads to gathering in one…
תרס"א(1900)
Mutual Favor Through Testimony· Essay 1
Regarding the second set of Luchos, which were the handiwork of Moshe Rabbeinu, yet bore the writing of Hashem. The second Luchos differed from the first: Moshe Rabbeinu carved the stone himself, but the writing on them was still from Hashe…
Inner And Outer Keys· Essay 2
On the parsha that begins "And now, what does Hashem ask of you," the Gemara teaches that one who has Torah in his possession but does not have yiras Shamayim in his possession is like a man to whom the keys of the inner chambers were hande…
Daily Renewal Through Mitzvos· Essay 3
On the pasuk, "And it shall be, if you will surely listen" (Devarim 11:13). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that promises blessing if Bnei Yisrael will truly listen to Hashem's mitzvos. "If you will listen" to the old, "you will listen" …
תרס"ג(1902)
Mitzvos Build Future Reward· Essay 1
In the Midrash: the purpose of the chapters, etc.: "When do You give us the reward of the mitzvos? On the heel (eikev), etc." The Sfas Emes opens with the Midrash that links the parsha's name, eikev (heel), to the question of when Bnei Yisr…
Joy Completes Every Mitzvah· Essay 2
On the pasuk "And it will be, if you surely listen... that I command you this day" (Devarim 11:13), this is the meaning of what is written: "Fortunate is the man who listens to Me, to keep watch at My doorways" (Mishlei 8:34) — these are th…
תרס"ד(1903)
The Mosheic Spark Within· Essay 1
On the pasuk "And now, Yisrael, what does Hashem your God ask of you, except to fear" (Devarim 10:12). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk in which Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael that all Hashem asks of them is yiras Shamayim. The Gemara asks: Is …
Reward Secondary To Mitzvos· Essay 2
"And it will be, eikev (as a consequence of) your listening" (Devarim 7:12). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk about blessing coming "eikev" — on the heels of — Bnei Yisrael's listening to Hashem. This is a promise that in the end Bnei Yis…
Daily Dveikus Through Torah· Essay 3
"And it shall be, if you will surely listen" (Devarim 11:13). The piece opens with the verse from the second paragraph of Krias Shema, focusing on its doubled wording "listening you shall listen." In the Gemara, Chazal expounded on the doub…