Eikev, Ekev, Ekeb, or Eqeb, עקב, is this week’s portion.  It’s Deuteronomy 7:11 – 11:25.  Ekev carries the simple meaning of “if”.  This section of Torah has Moshe retelling the story of the sin of the Golden Calf with the repercussion and consequences for making an idol.  Throughout the portion it also contains blessings with the pattern, “If … then”.  The mitzvot (commandments) and following them are the condition that fulfills the requirement so the Most High can bless those guarding and keeping the mitzot.  Rashi interprets ekev as “heel”  If you do the mitzvot instead of trampling on them with your heel, then the blessings come.  Either way pashat (simple) or midrashic (homeletic or teaching story)  we encounter the wisdom and life reaped when the mitzvot are heard, obeyed, kept, guarded, and done.  The Hebrew phrase for this attitude and behavior that follows is shomer (hear, guard, keep, do) mitzvot  (commandments).  This is the path to follow like the ruts worn in the road by a wagon that you can walk in as others before  you did. 

Not everyone worshiped the Golden Calf.  The women did not cooperate with those making and worshiping it.  The women received the New Moon festival with a time of rest.  The importance of guarding and doing the mitzvot is emphasized in this portion.  The derech chayim (path of life) is set out clearly with blessings or rewards for keeping and guarding it.  Not holding with emuna (faith) and bitachon (trust) while Moshe was on the mountain with the Most High almost wiped out the people of Israel.  The Holy One had told Moshe he didn’t want to hear him, and yet Moshe plead with the Most High.  He cried out and the people were spared.  We see rahamimor rahmanut  (pity and mercy) in the Holy One’s interaction with the people of Israel.  The ones who died, about 3,000 had actively participated in the idolatry of the  Golden Calf and the Most High called some to execute those entered the practice of idolatry and went outside of worship of the Holy One Blessed be He.

This portion calls us repeated to focus on the mitzvot, to learn it, to guard, keep and do it.  The blessing for keeping it is there.  One may do it out of love, and or do it for the blessing, yet guarding it out of love for the Most High is the higher way.  The words rahaminor rahamunut carries a much wider concept than pitcy and mercy.  It has the connotation of family, and love.  The root is rehem meaning “mother’s womb”.  Moshe’s  prayer on the behalf of the people impacted the outcome.  The Most High heard and did not wipe out the people.

Baal Teshuvah means master of repentance, or returning to the Most High.  This week we see the way to return when we find ourself having lost the rut, the path of Jews who came before us.  Keep returning, keep guarding and making the mitzvot a part of your daily life.  Study the mitzvot and see the positive and negative commands, learn and make your own the mitzvot that apply today in  your life, work, and relationships.  Returning the the Holy One and the mitzvot (commandments), the derech chayim (path of life) brings blessings from the Most High into reality in your life.  The mitzvot breath new life and blessings of our Creator into our lives.  The tenderness of our Creator is highlighted with the concept of family, love, pity, mercy in the “womb” where the Most High knew us before we where conceived.  There is no fear, except the fear of the Holy One.