ארץ אשר ה' אלקיך דרש אתה תמיד עיני ה'אלקיך בה מרשית השנה ועד אחרית שנה (יא-יב)
The Torah in Parshas Eikev enumerates the many virtues of Eretz Yisroel - although the greatest attribute of all is that this holy land is the primary focus of the Ribono Shel Olam from the beginning of the year until the end of year. The obvious question is asked here: Why, when referring to the beginning of the year, is it written "השנה" with a ה' הידיעה, whereas, the end of year is just referred to as "אחרית שנה" without the special letter “heh”?
My machshava here is based on a famous vort of the Satmar Rebbe zt”l. Since Parshas Eikev is always lained immediately before Chodesh Elul, it helps to serve as a wake-up call to all Jews, that the time for improving our ways is just around the corner! Every year, before Rosh Hashana, we get excited about the opportunity given to us to work on and correct any spiritual flaws or wrongdoings, convincing ourselves that this will be THE year - "השנה" - that we will attain perfection and purity. We become filled with enthusiasm, positive that we will soon be better people in the coming year! However, as the year draws to a close, we usually feel disappointed as we realize that once again, we didn’t accomplish what we set out to do this year. The year that we anticipated would be full of self-improvement turned into just another ordinary year...from "ראשית השנה" it became "אחרית שנה" - the end of another typical year.
After Tisha B’av and Shabbos Nachamu we can homiletically translate the following words from the Kedusha of Mussaf: "הן גאלתי אתכם אחרית כראשית". Hashem is hinting to us that the Geulah can only come when "אחרית כראשית" - when the end of our year will be like the beginning, replete with the fulfilled goals that we intended to accomplish.
May the coming year of תשע"ח be “HASHANAH”, a year of gezunt, parnassa, nachas, menuchas hanefesh and menuchas haguf as we greet Moshiach Tzidkeinu, במהרה בימנו אמן!
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