Eikev 5786 (August 1, 2026)

By Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

In Parashat Eikev, the Torah emphasizes a reciprocal relationship between action and response: “And it shall be, if you listen (eikev tishme’un)…” Blessing follows attentiveness – hearing God’s commandments and living by them. Listening here is not passive; it is active, shaping behavior and deepening covenantal connection.

This idea resonates with Shema Koleinu –“hear our voice.” In prayer, we ask God to listen to us with compassion, to receive our words and respond with care. Yet Parashat Eikev reminds us that listening is not one-directional. Just as we hope to be heard, we are called to hear – to attune ourselves to values, responsibilities, and the needs around us. We should always remember – God created us with two ears and one mouth, so we can listen more than we speak. 

There is a subtle but powerful balance: Shema Koleinu expresses human vulnerability, while Parashat Eikev emphasizes human responsibility. Prayer becomes not only a request for divine attention, but also a practice that sensitizes us to listening more deeply in our own lives.

When we align these ideas, a fuller picture emerges. To say Shema Koleinu is to open a medium of relationship; to live as Parashat Eikev is to sustain it through action. Blessing, then, flows not only from being heard, but from becoming listeners ourselves — responsive, attentive, and engaged in shaping a life of meaning and connection.