How
do we become like our forefather, Yaakov Avinu? First of all, we must know that
Yaakov is considered Ish Emet, The Man of Truth. The Orhot Tzadikkim
has an entire chapter devoted to the characteristic of Emet (truth) and
explains one who is honest leads a life of success. He specifically explains
that an individual who follows the Emet, like Yaakov did, and is honest in
his/her HEART and does not want to even think lies, all his/her sayings are
established and erected.
This
shows us the power of truth, that if an individual learns Torah and reaches the
core of truth, or the core of Torah, they can successfully live a life of
Mitzvot and the correct path. We know today people who claim to be religious
might even go in an awfully mistaken path and think they are perfect Jews
following the Shulhan Aruch (Jewish Code of Law)!
The
answer is to be completely devoted to truth. But how do we do that? We need to
be like Yaakov. If we split up the name Yaakov into two we have: Yud-Ayin, Kuf,
Bet. This forms the letter Yud (with a numerical value, gematriya, of ten) and
the word Ekev, which means heal.
There
are two pesukim in our Tanach that relate directly to these two parts of the
body. As we know from Shiruim (Torah classes), the letter Yud in Kabbalah
represents wisdom and wisdom is located in the brain (in the central and
highest part of the body). We also know from Hebrew that the word Ekev, or
heel, refers to the lowest part of the body. In Tehillim (111:9) David HaMelech
graciously writes: Reshit Hohma Yirat Hashem… The zenith of wisdom is
Fear of Heaven. In Mishlei (22:4), David’s son Shelomo describes: Ekev Anava Yirat Hashem...On the heel
of modesty comes Fear of Heaven. 
As
Rashi states in Parashat Ekev, we know that the heel represents our lack of
stringency on where we let our legs take us. We sometimes find ourselves in
places we should not be in and just ignore the grip the Yetzer Hara has on us
but we must understand once we reach this grip and control our own actions, we
can easily reach Yirat Shamayim (Fear of Heaven). This is the greatness of
Yaakov, he had the power and emunah (faith) to know that with much effort he
can have Fear of Heaven completely take control over him from heel to brain to
do the service of Hashem.
Shabbat Shalom! [Why not
begin with Shabbat?]
Judaism=Think.
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