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Eikev

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE QUESTION

Just this week a yungerman approached me and asked why do we find it so difficult to judge people favorably. Is it because we have preconceived notions and assumptions? Then he told me a story about himself which changed his outlook on people. He had an older bachur friend who owned a pick up truck for his business. His friend was told that one of the reasons why shidduchim don’t seem to come his way is because when you pick them up to ride in your vehicle it really doesn’t flatter them. So he bought a new fancy upper end car.

SOMETIMES IT IS WORTH BEING A HEEL 5771

The opening passuk of the parsha promises “vehaya aikev tishmeun” when you will listen to fulfill my commandments, then “veshamar lecha es habris ve’es hachesed asher nishba la’avosecha” I will preserve the covenant and kindness that I swore to the avos. One must ask to the relationship of these two statements. Why is the fulfillment of the oath that Hashem took to preserve the bris with the avos dependent upon our fulfillment of the mitzvos? Secondly, why did the Torah use the non frequently used word “aikev” instead of “eem” meaning if?

How to Improve One's Hearing

Vahaya aikev tishmeoon. All one has to do is to listen and hear. Vhaya eem shamoah tishmeoo el mitzvosai. The Sefas Emes explains that the double terminology of hearing sends the message all one has to do is to hear what he is already hearing. His neshama speaks to him all the time. He only has to let himself fully hear its message.

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