Not By Bread Alone – The Kabbalah Of Human Nutrition

A joyous farbrengen was held one evening at the humble home of Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel Sheftel (The ‘Rashbatz’). For hours the group of Chassidim sat, toasting L’chaim’s, singing, talking, rebuking and inspiring one another. As the clock marked the passing of the night, the meager platters of ‘Farbeisen’ (food with which to follow up the L’chaim vodka) ran out, so Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel instructed that the lamb being raised in his yard be slaughtered. A hot stew was prepared to fuel the Farbeisen for many an hour to come.

The next morning Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel’s wife came in from the yard with the distressing news that the lamb – which constituted the whole of the ‘family ranch’ – had disappeared! Said Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel: “No, no, the lamb has not disappeared. The lamb is very much here, it has only changed its sound. Yesterday it said meh-eh-eh. . . today it is saying Echo-o-d. . ., O-o-one. . . ” (as in G-d is one).

“Man does not live by bread alone, but by all that emanates from the mouth of G-d does man live.” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

The Weekly Sicha of the Rebbe – Parshas Eikev

The Rebbe says:

1. The first words of this week’s Torah portion are, “And it shall be, because you listened to these ordinances of Hashem (G-d)… He will love you, bless you and multiply you…”.

Rashi (an acronym for Reb Shlomo Yitzchaki) points out that the Hebrew word “Eikev” which is simply translated in this verse as “because”, also means “heel”. Consequently, explains Rashi, the verse is alluding to the sort of Mitzvos (commandments) that people regard as relatively unimportant so they tend to “trample on them with their heels”. Thus, the Torah is assuring the Jewish people that if they are careful to observe even these neglected commandments, they can be certain that Hashem will reward them with His kindness.

The source of Rashi’s explanation is from the Midrash Tanchuma who says this in a slightly different way; “When the Torah says, ‘Eikev’”, says the Midrash Tanchuma, “it is referring to “light” Mitzvos which people are not careful to keep and they throw them away under their heels”.