Torah Thought - Ekev

         August 15/16,2014   Av 19/20, 5774

In this parsha/portion we learn, “And all the commandments which I commanded you today, you shall do in order that you shall live and you will increase and you will come, and you will inherit the land.”   A great road map for anybody! It is a very powerful statement; never give up and keep moving progressively forward and GROW!  Keep learning, keep absorbing, and building your own self with great steps forward, and with each step, you will have great spiritual growth. 

With growth, you can achieve…………proactive achievement as long as we as individuals don’t fool ourselves into thinking ‘we’ are greater than the commandments, its meaning, its purpose, its true statement, be it back in the time of forefathers, or today, in the year 5774/2014,and with all of our worldly and not so worldly distractions.

It is vital for each person to focus on what IS achievable in his/her, not on what’s NOT attainable!  613 commandments/Mitzvahs are many, and some do not apply to you, to your brother, your sister, your mother or father, or children, or  to me.  To make ‘it’ work, focus on the following, “Honor your Mother and Father”.  That is very achievable and CAN be attained. Is #601, not to dwell permanently in Egypt--Deuteronomy 17:16?  Is #603. Not to offer peace to Ammon and Moab while besieging them--Deuteronomy 23:7?  Are they attainable to you today?    My subtle point, but very clear message here is to focus on what is relevant to you, and Yes, sometimes, it is a little reach, sometimes a little work, in fact, a lot of work, but the dividends and rewards are absolutely great for YOU!

In a world  that has computers that talk to you, a world that ha every manner to communicate and reach out with social media, in a world that has TV’s as big as movie theater screens, or Google cars that drive themselves, STOP, STOP, STOP!!!!  Slow down for your own sake, take a breath, walk just a little slower, and take time for YOU, Prayer, and G-D!  Crawl if needed, but progressively go forward and make the time, and it will be reflective upon you; a true shining gleam from YOU to the rest of US!!!!   It is true internal and external bliss!

Walk your path towards it, walk at your pace, keep it in your heart, attach it to your soul and body, bind it to the door post of your home, and JUST walk, walk and keep it simple and close to YOUR heart!

Amen