SPACEY DETAILS
When observing the jubilation early this week at NASA’s Pasadena, California base, it was obvious they had something to celebrate. They were cheering as a ten-foot long vehicle, dubbed “Curiosity,” touched down flawlessly on the planet of Mars. This rover possesses a staggering one billion dollars’ worth of electronic and technological equipment.
Most people have played video games, and are familiar with pressing buttons to control vehicles. Many wondered whether the celebration would be considered exaggerated as a group of scientists programmed the landing of this vehicle via computer commands and, essentially, pressing buttons.
When learning about this mission, however, one comprehends the incredible feat that was pulled off this week. First, they have been working on this mission for the past eight years. That is a long time. After constructing and transporting this vehicle across the United States, it was launched into space, to travel 350 million miles to Mars. This journey, at speeds of tens of thousands of miles per hour, took longer than 8 months.
And then came the mission’s most dangerous maneuver: plunging into the atmosphere of Mars. It had seven minutes until it would land itself on the surface. The controllers had to be mindful of storm conditions on the Red planet. This vehicle was to land in a specific location. And it took an intricate series ofcomplex decelerating procedures to have it softly touch down in perfect working order.
So much could have gone wrong. Even the tiniest of flaws would have rendered this $2.5 billion operation useless. If one minuscule detail, seemingly insignificant, would have been off course, the space rover would have ended in a heap of expensive scrap metal and wires on the surface of that planet.
Around the house, a loose screw is not necessarily a crisis. Even a missing screw would not be the end of the world. In operations of exploring space, the smallest of flaws cause substantial and colossal impairment and destruction.
For this reason, those that work on missions to space, and even those working in the aircraft industry, must be more meticulous than most people. There are numerous cross-checks, tests and investigations, to ensure that everything is in absolute perfect condition, at all times.
To most people, being this meticulous is fairly uncommon. Many get by with not every T crossed and I dotted. For critical matters, however, those small details, especially those small details, must be painstakingly and scrupulously monitored and tracked – which explains an unusual use of a word at the onset of this week’s Torah portion, “Eikev.”
The portion begins by stating: “It will happen, as a result of your listening to these laws, and you pay attention to their observance, G-d, your G-d, will keep (His promise) to you: The covenant and the kindness that He swore to your fathers.” The Torah continues to enumerate a long list of blessings, including children, sustenance, health, and security. (D’varim (Deuteronomy) 7:12-16.
The Torah is promising all these blessings “as a result” of the Jewish people following the precepts and directives of the Torah. The three English words, “as a result,” are translated from the single Hebrew word, “Eikev.” This word is, as mentioned, becomes the name of the entire portion.
There are other words in the Hebrew language which express “as a result.” The word “Eikev” used in this portion is also the Hebrew word for heel. The Sages take note of the use of this word, and teach: “’Eikev’ refers to those commandments that people treat lightly and tread upon with their ‘heels,’ or toss under their ‘heels.’” The verse, therefore, implies that the blessings promised by the Almighty are predicated upon the people paying attention to, and obedience of, those commandments, too.
The Torah contains commandments that may seem extremely significant and relevant to the human mind. One would thus find the majority of the Jewish people observing the fast of Yom Kippur. Many would draw a line at eating the meat of the hog. Many consider the commandment to donate to charity as highly significant.
Other commandments, however, are not necessarily observed in the same manner. When it comes to “loving your fellow as yourself,” not everyone is as scrupulous as they would be with not eating certain meats. Enjoying food while dwelling in the Sukkah, does not carry the same weight as refraining from food on Yom Kippur. The commandments associated with time also do not seem to engender the same focus as other commandments.
It is common to hear people grumble and moan regarding observing commandments that seem petty to them. “Does G-d really care whether Shabbos begins at 8:10 or at 8:11?” Others feel that there are more important things to worry about than some of the nuances and details that seem to be small and even insignificant.
The word “Eikev” is employed in this week’s portion to emphasize that everything instructed in the Torah is significant and relevant. The approach of considering one Divine edict more imperative and significant than another should not be left to fallible human intelligence. As limited beings, humans do not possess the ability to judge which Divine ordinances carry more importance than others. All the commandments, big or small, are designed to connect human beings to the Divine.
A wise man once explained it this way: When sending an email, the domain always ends with a dot something. If an email were to be sent, but just lacking that little dot, the smallest of specks, it would be undeliverable to its destination.
The Torah therefore indicates that even those commandments which people may have a tendency to leave “under the heel” should be deemed relevant and important.
Another factor of the heel is its location: The heel is not just at the bottom of a person’s body, it is also the part of the body upon which people tread. As such, the heel is also the most distant area in the body in terms of nerves and blood. The heels are the coarsest of any bodily part.
The Torah is suggesting that, in addition to being cognizant and mindful of all the Almighty’s instructions, even those which may appear to be less significant, one’s interest and enthusiasm for each Divine Mitzvah should permeate even the coarsest human limb.
The Almighty did not impose upon His people to do anything. As the Torah discusses in its following portion, a choice is given to every person whether to observe the commandments or not.
When the Torah promises the materialistic rewards for observing its mandates, it emphasizes that all people are expected to focus on the entire gamut of instructions. All instructions are required by the Almighty. They are all Divine, and, therefore, relevant.
No one knows what the Curiosity Rover is going to find out there, on Mars. The possibilities are endless, and the, yes, curiosity of it, occupies many minds and hearts of people around the world, especially in this country. As a result, billions of tax dollars are spent, as those people in charge realize how every single detail is critical for the success of the mission. No details will be allowed to be ignored, since very single one of them will undoubtedly impact the entire operation.
Similarly, no people, even the “heels” of society, can claim to be anything less than a key component of the Almighty’s “mission” to probe and discover the great potential of this world. It should, therefore, be on the minds of all people how each and every human person plays a decisive role. This knowledge should suffice for people to be filled with enthusiasm and joy, seeking to perform more and more of the Almighty’s commandments.
And then, life will be discovered! It will then also be clear how worthwhile this journey really was.
SUMMARY: Even the most minute detail is critical on a journey into space. Similarly, No one of the Almighty’s commandments is more important than others. All details, and people, are indispensable.
Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos and all the best. May the coming week bring you only good news, happy news and healthy news.
Love,
-RYL
Candle lighting for this Friday evening in the city of Sandy Springs, Georgia: 8:10 p.m. The holy day of Shabbos concludes on Saturday night at 9:08 p.m.
Anon wrote...
Rabbi Lew wrote...