Parshat Ekev

Parshat Ekev
August 22, 2008/ 21 Av 5768

Baruch t’hiyeh mi-kol ha-amim/ You will be blessed from all other peoples. (Deut 7:14)

This somewhat ambiguously worded verse from the beginning of Parshat Ekev suggests two possible relationships between Israel and the other nations of the world, and more broadly, two possible modes of human relations generally.

The first way to read this pasuk is as a promise that Israel will be blessed above the other nations of the world. That is to say, if the Jewish people is faithful to God’s commandments, then they will be the favored among God’s children and will receive the most bountiful rewards. In fact, this appears to be the contextual (p’shat) meaning of this text-- given that it is found amidst a collection of blessings which God pledges to bestow if they are obedient.

However, it is a matter of Jewish religious conviction that no verse in the Torah is relegated to only following its contextual meaning. Another possibility, and one favored by the Rabbis in Deuteronomy Rabbah, is to understand the verse this way: “You will be blessed by all of the other nations of the world.” In this understanding of the verse, the author of the blessing is not God, but rather other human beings. If Israel behaves in a holy manner, then the other nations of the world will experience their goodness and call them a blessing.

This verse provides two ways of relating to those around us. One way to approach others is as competitors for prosperity and blessing. In a world of scarce resources, only some of us can receive the full measure of good things, and so we are out to live in such a way as to gain the greatest advantage. Another way of approaching others is as potential allies. In this way of looking at things, the world is full of blessings if we will only share them. The goal is to live in such a way that we are blessings to one another-- that my presence in the world enhances your life and your presence in the world enhances mine.

As with any teaching from the Torah, no one interpretation is correct. There is a time for competition and a time for cooperation, a time to be the best and a time to seek to celebrate the best in others. This Shabbat, may we be greatly blessed and may we seek to be a blessing to those around us.