the Weekly Sedra – Eikev – All for the Boss

Sholom Aleichem. Serving a master is a part of life. For some the master is the pursuit of wealth while for others it could be intellectual satisfaction. Ideally, one recognizes the Master of the World and serves only Him. Serve this or serve that, but serve one must.

Being a servant has various formats. One can be a simple servant who performs his/her duties out of absolute obedience or one can be a devoted servant who serves happily due to the realization of the great lofty status of the master. In Chassidic philosophy this matter is discussed at great length. By understanding the master/servant relationship we will be able to utilize that understanding in our serving the Master of the World.

In a nutshell: The simple servant exhibits a much greater level of subservience to the master and serves without any ulterior motive for personal gratification. It is all for the boss!

The devoted servant is indeed devoted. Nevertheless, the recognition of the greatness of the master has to negate a bit of the servant’s total devotion to the master. There is an element of self interest brought into the equation by the servant’s appreciation of the master and the satisfaction achieved from being a servant to such a great master.

The net net of their actions might even be the same but with the simple servant there is that extra bit of devotion that comes from pure and simple obedience to a greater cause. The servant’s actions are truly only in service to the master and for not for any other reason.

Our collective master, the Master of the World, wants us to reveal His presence in this world. The Midrash tells us that this is the reason why He created it. To do so, He wants us to incorporate the simple obedience and essential connection of the simple servant into our lives. This will serve to reveal Him in everything we do as the presence of our Master will be constantly felt.

In this week’s Torah portion, Parshas Eikev, our teacher Moshe continues his address to the Jewish People in the weeks prior to his passing. He exhorts them to listen to G-d and that G-d will surely protect and care for them.

The verse states: And it will be because (Eikev in Hebrew) you will heed these ordinances and keep them and perform, that the Lord, your God, will keep for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers.

Explanation #1: The word Eikev also means heel, symbolizing the commandments that G-d gave us that people often ignore and figuratively squash with their heel. The verse teaches us that when people will heed those often-neglected, easily ignored commandments is when G-d will keep his covenant and show us the kindness He promised.

Explanation #2: The word Eikev refers to the time preceeding the coming of Moshiach, meaning that during the time before the revelation of Moshiach we will fulfill all the commandments and merit G-d’s keeping the covenant and showing us the kindness he promised.

When the same word has multiple explanations it is an indication that there is a connection between the two explanations. What is the connection here? The Rebbe explains:

Those commandments which are often ignored are the ones that possess the greatest level of G-dly revelation for us. The reasoning is that since they are easily ignored when one fulfills them they are doing it like the aforementioned simple servant who has total obedience to his master. By performing such commandments one achieves a most profound revelation of G-dliness as there is no personal interfering ulterior motive. It is the “all for the boss” approach. (Explanation #1) This total obedience and the revelation of G-d as the Master of the World is the key to making the world ready for the coming of Moshiach speedily. (Explanation #2)

Complicated stuff no doubt but the bottom line for us is to do more and more and not sit back and think where we get more personal bang for our proverbial Divine service buck. So let’s get going!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be. Shabbat Shalom! Chazak!!! L’Chaim!!!!

This Torah Thought is dedicated in loving memory of Schabse Noach ben Moshe z”l.