Rabbi's Blog

My Rebbi Rabbi Wein YB”L used to say “the reality never lives up to the fantasy”. Much of our life is lived in a fantasy state looking forward to things that hopefully will play itself out according to our vision. This should not be misunderstood to think we should not plan and dream in life, but rather enter into a situation knowing we might not fill that expectation. Second, there are times that the fantasy does live up to our expectations. The question though is: why in many situations does the rule apply? After thinking about this, I asked myself what is it that guarantees the fantasy or the dream? Is it a matter of planning better in order that the outcome comes to fruition?  

The simple answer is no. We can and should plan but there are many factors and variables that are out of our control. There are elements in life that we are unaware of that we did not take into account and then there are things that occur after we’ve made the plans that alter the original plan. We can only do our part to ensure the reality lives up to the fantasy but with no guarantees. Ultimately it is up to God to determine how much of the fantasy becomes reality. I am sure there are many reasons and factors that go into the process but we are not privy to them.

The only One that can plan and execute a perfect fantasy or prophecy that matches the reality can only be planned by Hashem. The promises and prophecies that Moshe outlines in this week’s parsha are truly remarkable to take place in a country in the Middle East. Parshas Eikev is full of detail in how the land of Israel is going to flourish from east south west and north. Israel today is the most advanced and developed country within the last seventy years. The population growth of the country has challenged it in every area of life. Yet Israel continues to respond to the ever burgeoning challenges it faces.

To illustrate I will point out a few a few areas of incredible ingenuity that I observed the past few weeks.  The population in Yerushalayim is possibly at its height in history. With so many people and cars in the city travel was getting difficult. Well, it’s easy for a city that is growing just to build new roads and expand, but Jerusalem is not a planned city. The engineering feats and ways to build new thoroughfares such as the Begin highway dissecting the city and maximizing the area now going from the north to the south of the city is ingenious. The newish light rail that took some time to build has proven very effective and now a new super train from Yerushalayim to Tel Aviv (25 minutes) is scheduled to be completed by 2018. The food industry for both domestic and export is growing despite the BDS anti-Semitic movement.  With Jewish/Israeli agricultural technology there is almost no piece of land that isn’t ‘fertile’ to grow something. The drip irrigation system is able to maximize the precious commodity of water by using a little and producing a lot. Tourism is a major contributor to the economy. Despite being located in the powder keg of the world Israel is able to weather the storms of terrorism that try to prevent and scare tourists away. For me, as many times as I have visited Israel there is ALWAYS something new to see whether a new excavation, museum, or a modern fun activity. One last example is in the area of defense. Israel continues to exist despite the physical threat from its enemies. Israel’s defense and security know how is sought after by other countries. The technology and expertise has prevented our enemies from carrying out their plans.  

In this week’s Parsha Eikev the Torah in Devarim 8:8 states “Eretz Chita U’Seorah V’Gefen U’T’eina V’Rimon, Eretz Zeit Shemen U’Dvash”. “A land of wheat and barley, the grapevine and the fig and the pomegranate, a land of olive oil and honey”. The commentary Onkelos explains it to be a land that sweats and makes oil and honey. Later in Eikev 11:9 on the words ‘Eretz Zovas Chalav U’Dvash’, a land flowing with milk and honey Onkelos translates the word zovas as works rather than the traditional definition of flow. The Chasam Sofer explains there is an apparent two-step process that the land of Israel must undergo in order to produce in an abundant fashion. In describing the greatness of the Jewish people the Torah in Devarim 26:19 states: U’Lisitcha ElyonAl KKol HaGoyim Asher Asah L’Tehila L’Sheim U’Litiferes” And I will place you on top of all the nations of the world and it will be a praise, for my namesake and for glory”.

The Chasam Sofer uses these two verses to explain how the milk, honey, olives and oil connect. The Jewish people are compared to oil that when mixed with water it floats to the top. But the oil floating and reaching the top only comes after a lot of hardship, affliction and pain. Olive oil is produced by crushing and smashing the olive and pressing and squeezing out its precious liquid. So too the Jewish people are made to float to the top only after we are made into that precious oil. The Jewish people in the end receive honor and be blessed by all only after going through hardships, endure pain and suffer. The past one hundred years has been tough for Am Yisrael, but the budding and oozing of the rich oil is hopefully starting to flow.

This olive or Jew through the smacking and difficulty will gush forth the precious oil. At that point it (it being the Jew and the land of Israel) will be a producer of Dvash, honey. Dvash is an acronym for Dei’ah, Binah, Seichel, knowledge, intellect and understanding. The Gemara Bava Basra 158 teaches “Avira D’Eretz Yisrael Machkim” The air or environment of the land of Israel makes one wise. The land flowing with honey isn’t only taken literally, but metaphorically speaking it is the land and the people of Israel who will produce like honey.  The honey of wisdom and brain power that has brought great technology, science, agriculture, medicine, security and urban development to Israel today.      

There is no question that the accomplishment only comes from the Almighty, our Father in Heaven. Ironically it is in the very same parsha that the Torah describes the greatness of the land as we are seeing in our times that He warns us not to think it is our doing. We must be careful not to think “Kochi V’Otzem Yadi” is our strength and the handiwork of man that made all this for us. It is not a coincidence but rather by design that Hashem warns us to recognize it comes from Him.

It is the land that makes us wise and Hashem Who gives us the ability to create, invent and implement the dreams that we dreamt for centuries now come to be a reality in our lifetime. May we continue to recognize and thank Hashem for what we are experiencing today and let it continue to the ultimate prophecy of Yeshayahu “Sason V’Simcha Yimatzey Va Todah V’kol Zimra” in the Bayis Shlishi that should be built speedily in our day.

Ah Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky