Parshas Ekev - A thought on the first Rashi

“And it will be, as a consequence of (Ekev) you heeding these laws, and you guard them and fulfill them; HaShem your God will guard for you the covenant and the kindness that he swore to your forefathers.”

~ Devorim 7:12

And it will be, as a consequence of (Ekev) you heeding these laws. If you will heed even the smaller commandments, which a person [sometimes] tramples on with his heels (B’EhKayVav), then … HaShem, your God will guard, etc. He will keep his promise to you. 

~ Rashi on Devorim 7:12

Rashi points out the use here of the uncommon word Ekev (as a consequence of) and draws on a comment from the Midrash Tanchuma, which ties this to another word with a similar root, EhKayVa (heel). The lesson, he suggests, is that our heavenly reward is contingent on our adherence to all the mitzvot, not just those we favor but also those that we might downplay, fulfill half-heartedly, or even ignore.

This raises an interesting challenge, which each of us faces individually:

What are your ‘smaller mitzvot’?

For each of us, the answer will be different by dint of our individual preferences.  

We recently concluded the mournful and introspective season of the three weeks and entered the seven-week period that leads to the High Holydays. Perhaps now is a fine time to start considering which ‘little’ areas of observance we each have neglected and what we might resolve to improve upon in the new Jewish year.