Weekly Message 08.15.2025
- jccwestpasco
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Parashat Eikev (because) Deuteronomy 7:12 - 11:25
HafTorah Isaiah 49:14 - 51:3
Dear friends,
The summer months have flown by, the children are back in school, and we have already begun to prepare for the High Holy Days. We are in the midst of chanting the Prophet Isaiah's Haftorahs of Consolation which consist of seven selections from his prophetic writings (between now and Rosh Hashanah) which urge us to take comfort that if we follow the mitzvot while repenting for previous shortcomings, we can be encouraged by Hashem's kindness.
Last week's Torah reading in the Book of Deuteronomy (Devorim) contained the Shema and the first paragraph following it. This week in the portion of Ekev (11:13-21) we will chant the second paragraph which simply states that if we follow the mitzvot and are kind to our human neighbors and our environment, peace and prosperity will result. On the other hand, the opposite will take place if we ignore the mitzvot and worship "strange gods", i.e. wealth, selfishness, etc. The reading continues with the commandment to wear these words upon our souls, hearts, and hands (i.e. the wearing of the Tefillin during weekday morning worship) and at our doorposts (i.e. the mounting of the Mezuzah). Finally, we are implored to teach these words to our children. See the text below.
And as we continue to prepare for the High Holy Days, please help your synagogue by signing up for "Mitzvah Days" on September 1st and 2nd and support our fundraiser by purchasing "sweet treats" for your family and friends. And support our community by volunteering at Metropolitan Ministries. Our next session and last one of the summer season at their Pasco headquarters on Route 19 in Holiday will be on Thursday, August 21st between 11 am and 2 pm. If you haven't already signed up to join us for this rewarding mitzvah to aid those in need in our community, the link is at
Jewish Community Center Group Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
I hope to see you there and throughout the coming weeks as we prepare spiritually for the High Holy Days!
In the meantime, let's gather at the synagogue or virtually on Zoom for Shabbat services this evening at 7:30 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am.
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
13 And it will be, if you hearken to My commandments that I command you this day to love the Lord, your God, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,
יגוְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמֹ֤עַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לְאַֽהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ וּלְעָבְד֔וֹ בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁכֶֽם:
14 I will give the rain of your land at its time, the early rain and the latter rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil.
ידוְנָֽתַתִּ֧י מְטַר־אַרְצְכֶ֛ם בְּעִתּ֖וֹ יוֹרֶ֣ה וּמַלְק֑וֹשׁ וְאָֽסַפְתָּ֣ דְגָנֶ֔ךָ וְתִירֽשְׁךָ֥ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ:
15 And I will give grass in your field for your livestock, and you will eat and be sated.
טווְנָֽתַתִּ֛י עֵ֥שֶׂב בְּשָֽׂדְךָ֖ לִבְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ:
16 Beware, lest your heart be misled, and you turn away and worship strange gods and prostrate yourselves before them.
טזהִשָּֽׁמְר֣וּ לָכֶ֔ם פֶּן־יִפְתֶּ֖ה לְבַבְכֶ֑ם וְסַרְתֶּ֗ם וַֽעֲבַדְתֶּם֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִיתֶ֖ם לָהֶֽם:
17 And the wrath of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will close off the heavens, and there will be no rain, and the ground will not give its produce, and you will perish quickly from upon the good land that the Lord gives you.
יזוְחָרָ֨ה אַף־יְהֹוָ֜ה בָּכֶ֗ם וְעָצַ֤ר אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה מָטָ֔ר וְהָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן אֶת־יְבוּלָ֑הּ וַֽאֲבַדְתֶּ֣ם מְהֵרָ֗ה מֵעַל֙ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶֽם:
18 And you shall set these words of Mine upon your heart and upon your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be for ornaments between your eyes.
יחוְשַׂמְתֶּם֙ אֶת־דְּבָרַ֣י אֵ֔לֶּה עַל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וְעַל־נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וּקְשַׁרְתֶּ֨ם אֹתָ֤ם לְאוֹת֙ עַל־יֶדְכֶ֔ם וְהָי֥וּ לְטֽוֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵֽינֵיכֶֽם:
19 And you shall teach them to your chldren to speak with them, when you sit in your house and when you walk on the way and when you lie down and when you rise.
יטוְלִמַּדְתֶּ֥ם אֹתָ֛ם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְדַבֵּ֣ר בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֨ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ:
20 And you shall inscribe them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates,
כוּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם עַל־מְזוּז֥וֹת בֵּיתֶ֖ךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ:
21 in order that your days may increase and the days of your children, on the land which the Lord swore to your forefathers to give them, as the days of heaven above the earth.
כאלְמַ֨עַן יִרְבּ֤וּ יְמֵיכֶם֙ וִימֵ֣י בְנֵיכֶ֔ם עַ֚ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהֹוָ֛ה לַֽאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֖ם לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם כִּימֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
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JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Services 08/15 @ 7:30 pm, 08/16 @ 9:30 am
Time: This is a recurring meeting Fri & Sat
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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