בס”ד
By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron
This parsha Ekev describes at length the value and praises of the Holy Land. Hebron stands as the first settlement of the Jewish People in the Holy Land, the city our Patriarchs cherished, the city from which Kaleb drew the courage to speak in favor of settling this Land despite his opposition. Therefore, for this parsha we have chosen a painting of Hebron that emphasizes the beautiful landscape of the Holy Land surrounding Hebron and Maarat Hamachpela.
We see here seven grape-vines, four to the right and three to the left. This may hint to the head-tefilin which has a shin with three throngs to the left and a shin with four throngs to the right.
We see four houses which may hint to the term Kiryat Arba, which our sages attach to the number four and the four couples which built four “households.”