The Parashah opens and closes with an intriguing focus on our feet. At the beginning of the parashah, the Torah tells us:
והיה עקב תשמעון: אם המצוות הקלות שאדם דש בעקביו תשמעון
"In the future, as a consequence of your listening—even the lesser commandments, which a person sometimes treads upon with his heels, you will listen to."1
Here, the Torah emphasizes the importance of the “lesser” mitzvos—those that might be metaphorically trampled underfoot, overlooked in the rush of daily life.
As the Parashah progresses, it culminates with a powerful promise regarding the conquest of Eretz Yisrael:
כל המקום אשר תדרך כף רגלכם לכם נתתי.
"Everywhere your foot shall walk upon is yours..."2
At first glance, these pesukim seem to address vastly different themes: one focuses on the careful observance of mitzvos, while the other promises dominion over the land of Israel. Yet, a deeper understanding reveals a profound connection between them.
Several questions can be raised here:
What is the connection betwee…
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