Glossary of Terms Used in the Ekev Weekly Torah Portion
- Benevolent (the Good Who Does Good)
- Laws and Ordinances, Opposite the One Law
- Enemy and Triumph
- Fear
Benevolent (the Good Who Does Good)
The light comes from the Creator, who is benevolent. However, because of our disparity from the light, we feel it as the opposite. It is like a mother who loves her child, but the child sees her behavior as bad. Inside, her heart is good and open, but on the outside she must behave differently with her child in order to “straighten” it out. It is the same with us. Everything works according to the promise that is written in this portion.
Laws and Ordinances, Opposite the One Law
The “One Law” is the light that stands opposite to all of our desires, which are the 613 desires. If we arrange all of them in bestowal and love, in congruence with the light, we will be in a state of benevolence (the Good who does good).
Enemy and Triumph
The enemy is our ego. Triumph is if we can rise above it, as it is written, “Love covers all transgressions” (Proverbs, 10:12). The ego is under an “umbrella,” in mutual guarantee, and the character of everyone remains inside. It is burning, and this is very good, but we are above it, united.
Fear
Fear is one’s first contact with the ever-growing will to receive. The fear comes from the ego when we still cannot rise above it. There are always such states, but once we rise above the ego, fear no longer exists.
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