Ekev
Deut. 7:12 - 11:25
Précis: Moses continues his recapitulation of the commandments to the people, reminding them to be obedient to God’s laws in their forthcoming struggle with the Canaanites. He describes in detail all of the blessings which God had already provided them, and reminds them to bless and thank God for the bounty they receive. On the other hand, they should follow the rebelliousness of their fathers, including the incident of the Golden Calf, punishment will occur.
Deut. 11:13-14 “And it will come to pass, if you listen diligently to My commandments which I command you this day, to love Adonai your God and serve Adonai with all your soul, that I will give rain in your land in due season.”
The meaning of this parasha can be easily summed up: actions have consequences. We know this is the case each time we recite the Sh’ma and its accompanying paragraphs. We read "If you will obey the commandments that I enjoin you today, loving the Lord your God and serving God with all your heart and soul. I will grant the rain for you in the Land of Israel." But then we see the alternative: "Take care not to be lured away to serve other gods and bow down to them. For the Lord's anger will flare up against you and God will shut up the skies so that there will be no rain. The ground will not yield its produce and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving to you."
Some view this dichotomy in a very literal sense: Whenever something bad happens to us or to the Jewish People, it’s because we have failed to follow the commandments. When things go well, it is because we have been living a good life. To me, too much evil happens to too many good people, and vice versa. And I reject the notion that God acts in mysterious ways, or that the ultimate reconciliation between good and evil will take place in the world to come.
Some view this dichotomy in a very literal sense: Whenever something bad happens to us or to the Jewish People, it’s because we have failed to follow the commandments. When things go well, it is because we have been living a good life. To me, too much evil happens to too many good people, and vice versa. And I reject the notion that God acts in mysterious ways, or that the ultimate reconciliation between good and evil will take place in the world to come.
Having said that, however, I do believe, and believe strongly, that actions have consequences. Among the most important actions we can take now is to vote our conscious in the upcoming Presidential election, and take steps to assure that the candidate we support is elected. I believe that our votes will indeed have consequences, and that our collective action will have consequences indeed for America and for the world.
