August 7th: Ekev
THIS WEEK IN THE TORAH
Rabbi David E. Ostrich
Part of my family came to the United States through Galveston, Texas. We do not know why they came there, but the 1800s saw a lot of settlement in Texas—and a lot of land speculation. Once I was doing some research about early Galveston and came across some pamphlets from land speculators. To sell their land to people on the East Coast, they advertised Texas in Biblical terms: as a Land Flowing with Milk and Honey.
This apparently brought them some success, but their second attempt at selling land was stymied by the reports of the initial buyers. Writing from Texas after trying to start farms there, new landowners reported that the East Texas land was not like the Biblical Promised Land at all. There was no “Milk and Honey!”
Undeterred by such naysaying, a second wave of pamphlets was distributed with some Biblical commentary: even in the Land Flowing with Milk and Honey, it is necessary to work hard and bring forth the blessings.
This brings to mind a Midrash on the phrase—one which attempts to make God’s Biblical promise literally true. The Rabbis explain that “Honey” refers to date honey, the gelatinous syrup that drips from overripe dates. The Promised Land was so rich that the dates ripened and literally dripped honey onto the ground: Eretz Yisra’el flowed with honey. As for the milk, the earth was so rich that the goats and sheep didn’t even have to be milked: their milk dripped from their udders onto the ground: the Land also flowed with milk.
Of course, this literal reading of the text is fanciful—a kind of grandiose testimony of God’s miraculous deeds. But for those involved in working the land, the real miracle is that, when the land is worked, the crops grow. Here is a passage from this week’s Torah portion that speaks of the abundance of the land—which we must work:
“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill: a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey; a land where you may eat food without stint, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and from whose hills you can mine copper.” (Deuteronomy 8.7-9)
The blessings will be abundant, but they will only be brought forth when we work the land and mine the hills.
Then, a very famous instruction:
“You shall eat and be satisfied and give thanks to the Lord your God for the good land that has been given you.” (Deuteronomy 8.10).
This is the prooftext for Birkat Hamazon, the traditional Blessing After a Meal. Notice the order: eat, experience satisfaction, and then bless the Lord our God. Notice also the mitzvah of experiencing satisfaction.
Though God promises plenty, our ancient ancestors realized that satisfaction is not simply a function of enough: it is that mental process in which one sees and feels “enough.” This seems to be what Ben Zoma had in mind when he taught, “Who is rich? One who rejoices in things already owned.” (Avot 4)
It is actually part of a longer perek in Avot:
“Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:3). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30).”
The point is that wisdom, riches, strength, and honor are all qualities that spring, in large part, from our own attitudes. This is not to say that certain minimums are not required for health and security, but it does identify our attitudes as a major factor in our ability to find happiness.
I believe that we are all intelligent enough to realize that “the glass is half empty.” There are certainly problems in the world and in our lives. We are caught between infinite desires and finite possibilities. However, the question of human happiness lies in our ability to see that “the glass is half full.“ It is a skill we can hone and use, and we can start with appreciating the blessings we are given.
“Eat your fill and be satisfied and give thanks to the Lord your God.”