Parshat Eikev- "Do you Remember?"

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Parshat Ekev (5770’)

As we continue through this portal called time, we are never truly humbled by where it has been, and all the people who are linked through it. I can construct my thoughts that will tell me that my “ancient” thoughts as a ten-year-old are my greatest of experience. But then we realize, that this portal is slightly greater then you or me. Our experiences are just one of the many points on time graph through history. Our Jewish nation has been fighting through this continuous exile to be strong, to remember the past, and to long for the future. But yet, I mumble, my eyes wander, and instant gratification is the value that runs the place that I am told is home.

We are a people with stubborn hearts, thick heads, and a “what I deserve,” mentality. The journeys from Egypt until now has led us to incredible heights and lows, and in this week’s Torah portion, after so much struggle, the Jewish people reach their final moment at the borders of Israel. The tests throughout the desert welcomed closeness to G-d, but because of our failings in faith, only three remained from the forty years in the desert: Moshe, Caleb son of Jephuneh (from the tribe of Judah), and Moshe’s disciple Joshua. This generation of the Jews did not know of the past, but they were comforted by their promised future in the Holy Land of Israel (like us). With a speech greater than any, HaShem, gives Moshe the words to properly convey the final epic of advice and concern for the Jewish nation for each following generation.

“You shall remember the entire road which HaShem, your G-d, led you these forty years in the desert so as to afflict you, to test you, to know what is in your heart whether you would observe His commandments or not. (10:2)”

Before continuing, let us not see this as a stab at any sort of Jew, but more a general statement regarding the masses, that we are all guilty to. When the verse states “You shall remember,” does that mean, don’t forget, or does that mean consciously think about “the entire road which HaShem, your G-d, led you?” My Holy Kallah Rachael pointed out that memories are things that remain in your consciousness, and the things you forget are things that were not as impactful or as important as the things you don’t forget. Meaning, if we don’t know the catastrophes of Jewish history in our consciousness, is that our fault? No, it’s not our fault (phew), it’s the one who thought it was less important to keep this value in the inner conscious for the generations. Obviously we are here today because many people did find it important, but others rather fit in, feel good, and figure out how to make sure names like Rosenberg and Berman could sound “less Jewish.”

The very fact that the Jewish nations overwhelming view of other Jews is not always so positive, shows that someone before you and me, lowered the standard of value for how we should treat one another. Since being a part of other nations, our schools, teachers and parents tried to bring us into the modern world that preaches G-d consciousness is wacky, and that the Holy Torah might as well be a coloring book and irrelavent to today’s world. These are our productions of a confused nation, a nation without roots, a nation without belonging and longing, and a nation who doesn’t know of our roads traveled.

The verse teaches us that no matter how hard the obstacle, no matter how inflicting a situation can be, they are all tests from G-d, to see whether or not we are committed to his teachings. As we sleep walk through Americans standards of living and their continuity in competitive corporations (alliteration much?), we must remember our story of Moshe and the Jews. That is not to say the Christopher Columbus and George Washington were not important people, but rather to realize that we may share common history, but our history is a itty bitty bit deeper than three hundred years ago (seriously).

This week I will try to: realize that in a world where anything goes, and religion has been degraded to institutionalized-cultish groups of mad-men, that we have a ancient history. That despite our long exile and our never ending tests, we will keep HaShem close to our hearts and, struggle to see why we are still in this world, and why our history is so important to know and study. We are the nation of Israel, let us remember why!

Shabbat Shalom!

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