Eikev - Next Generation Aug 12 2025 (Rabbi’s message)

Shalom,

As we continue to stand on the bank of the Jordan River listening to Moses’ farewell speech (which is almost the entirety of the Book of Deuteronomy) we come to our parasha for this week: Eikev. We continue to learn about the blessings and curses resulting from our response to the Mitzvoth - the Commandments. Yet, there is a verse in this week’s portion that helps us see deeper into the mitzvoth as educational tools.  It is about building our future! 

We are familiar with the charge that we recite in the V’ahavta prayer - V’Shinantam L’Vanecha - and you (singular) shall teach your children (Deut. 6:7) which appeared in last week’s portion; this week we learn - V’limadetem Otam - and you (plural) shall teach them (Deut. 11:19). While these phrases ring in similar ways, our tradition teaches us that there is more to this pair of verses.

In the Babylonian Talmud, this second verse is discussed and juxtaposed to the first on numerous occasions. We learn that we are to understand them in similar ways, but the second is broader in its command. This second verse expands the responsibility to not only one’s biological children, but also to the children in the community. 

From this we recognize the responsibility of imparting not only the mitzvoth, but also our tradition at large, rests with all of us.

In a world in which we take in so much information, it is becoming more and more complex to sift the information. How much the more so is this true for the way our young people learn.  We are all always modeling for others.

As we engage in parashat Eikev this week, may we all recognize the responsibility we have to teach, whether overtly in the form of lessons or covertly through our modeling, the younger generations in our communities and our world. May we also take to heart the responsibility to help our children, our own and those within our community, sift and discern the lessons that ought to be gleaned from what they experience, see and hear throughout life.

Shavua Tov,

Rabbi Evon