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If and When - Parashat Ekev 5776 - August 26, 2016

This week’s parasha, Ekev, presents the continuation of Moshe Rabbenu’s exhortation to the Jewish People – a Jewish People on the cusp of inheriting the Land of Israel and on the verge of losing their leader, Moshe. Moshe Rabbenu says to the people, “If /when (כי) you will say in your hearts: these nations are great, how can I dispossess them? Do not be afraid of them! You will surely remember that which Hashem did to Pharoah and all of Egypt.” (Devarim 7:17-18)

The great commentator, Rabbenu Ovadiah Seforno, addresses himself to the Torah’s use of the word ki. Our Rabbis teach us that ki has four possible meanings – two of which are "if" and "when". Which translation is appropriate in this context?

Seforno suggests that the correct meaning here is “when”. He expounds: when you say, “How can I dispossess them since they are more numerous than I am,” do not say so because you fear them, but because you recognize that this would, indeed, be impossible were it not for G-d’s help, and this is the meaning of “you will surely remember that which Hashem did to Pharoah and all of Egypt,” who were more numerous and far greater than you. (Translation from Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz)

This is truly an amazing comment! At first glance, I would have read these verses as an admonition – a rebuke of those among the Jewish People who were fearful about entering the Land. I would have assumed that Moshe Rabbenu was castigating these people and telling them that they have no business asking the question, “How can I dispossess them?” given what Hashem did to Pharoah and the Egyptians. I would have translated ki as “if”. However, this is not Seforno’s perspective. He translates ki as “when” – “When you ask … how can I dispossess them?” The Torah is exhorting such a questioner to not be fearful and to remember what Hashem has already done.

Apparently, according to Seforno, the question, on its face, is not inappropriate. Such a question might stem from an insecurity. But it may also stem from a recognition of the power differential between the Jewish People and the Caananites. Either way, the question itself is appropriate. Moshe Rabbenu is exhorting the people to not allow the question to devolve into un-grounded insecurity. Hashem will be with the Jewish People as He promised.

This is an important lesson for all of us. The Torah expects us to ask questions – even difficult questions. The questions themselves are of great value. Our test is our reaction to the questions. Moshe Rabbenu is teaching the Jewish People not to lose sight of well-established premises – such as knowledge of Hashem’s Providence – even in the face of difficult questions.

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