In our Torah reading for this week (i.e., parashat Eikev), Moses continues his farewell address to Israel by saying, “And because (עֵקֶב) you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the love that he swore to your fathers” (Deut. 7:12). Note that the word eikev (עֵקֶב), often translated “because,” literally means “heel,” which recalls Jacob (יעקב) the “heel-holder” who wrestled with the pain of his past to learn to bear the name Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל), the “prince of God” (Gen. 32:28)… And like Jacob, we must grapple to believe that the covenant of God’s love and acceptance is for us, too… The Sassover rebbe interpreted the opening verse of our Torah portion, “And because you will listen…” (וְהָיָה עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן) as, “and it shall be when your heel is ready to take a step, you will listen to your heart.” This is the step of faith. As you begin to walk with God, you will come to know yourself as a child of the great King. Likewise regarding the related verse in the Torah, “Because Abraham heard my voice” (עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקלִי), the sages read, “Abraham heard the word ‘down to his heel’” (Gen. 26:5). Like Abraham, we will hear God’s voice as we walk with him by faith…
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