Immediately following this blessing the Torah exhorts us, "Hishamru luchem pen yifteh livavichem,", "Guard yourselves, lest your hearts be deceived and you will turn aside and serve other gods." Rashi points out that the juxtaposition of these two phrases "and you will eat and you will be sated" with "Guard yourselves" teaches us that when people rebel against G-d, it is generally an outgrowth of being too satisfied. A hungry person looks to HaShem for Divine assistance. A satisfied individual tends to forget the sources of his bounty.

To further bolster his theory, Rashi brings a proof from an earlier Posuk in the Parsha which states "Pen Toechel Vesavatah", "Lest you eat and be satisfied," Virumm Livavichem Vishachact es HaShem Elokecha", "And your heart will become proud and you will forget HaShem, your G-d". It is clear from this earlier posuk that there is a definite correlation between being sated and rebelling against HaShem.

Rashi's explanation requires deeper understating. To begin with, when Rashi adds a proof to his thesis, he is telling us that the point would not be clear without the extra proof - yet the point Rashi made seems clear enough without the added boost from the earlier Posuk. No new insight is readily apparent with the addition of the second Posuk.

Furthermore, Rashi taught us that the concept of Veachalta Vesavatah is a unique blessing. Yet it is that same blessing that sets the groundwork for man's temptation to rebel against the dominion of HaShem. To paraphrase a famous saying, with blessings like that, lehavdil, who needs curses?

Obviously, there is a component missing that will give us insight into the deep thought Rashi wishes to impart. Let us analyze the second text Rashi quotes and see if indeed there is a deeper message to be culled from that passage.

In the beginning of the Parsha HaShem gives us much encouragement to prepare us for inheriting the Land of Israel. He reminds us of our servitude in Egypt, of our travels in the desert, of all that He did to care for us during the last forty years and He describes the beauty and the bounty of the Land of Israel. Then the Posuk tells us "Veachalta Visavatah Uvarachta es HaShem Elockecha", and "you will eat, and you will be sated, and you will bless HaShem, your G-d, for the good land that He gave you."

HaShem, reminds us how important it is to appreciate what we have and what He has done for us. Man has an infinite capacity to forget what has been done for him and how much he needs to appreciate what he has. Perhaps the two hardest words in the English language to pronounce with utmost sincerity are the words "Thank You".

When a person is taken ill and is unable to care for himself, he is struck by the awesome amount of Divine help he has in his life. I remember visiting a very prestigious Rav shortly after he suffered a stroke and receiving a lecture from him on the amount of nerves needed to bend his pinkie finger. Activities that had been taken for granted his entire life were now magnified and appreciated for the magnificent present from HaShem that they always were.

My son is spending his first summer in the Catskill Mountains. This city boy, who knows how to navigate his one city block on his bike, having been freed of the confines of the city, was amazed at the expanse and the freedom in the bungalow colony where we are staying. The morning after we arrived he was up and about at the crack of dawn, out of the bungalow, onto his bike, eagerly exploring every inch of his new found freedom. He couldn't stop describing all the nuances of each new experience. It was literally, a new awakening.

A week later we couldn't get him out of bed at 8:30 a.m.; the novelty had worn off and newer adventures must be sought to challenge him.

The Torah tells us that when we arrive in Eretz Yisroel we will be much like my son. We will be excited by all that HaShem has done for us and we will sense it in every bone of our bodies. As a result, Veachalta, we will eat, Visavatah, we will be satisfied and Uverachta, we will be filled with gratitude to HaShem for all the bounty He bestowed upon us.

Yet therein lies the challenge that our Parsha charges us with. Can we sustain that level of newness and appreciate what HaShem gives us on a consistent basis?

Rashi is teaching us a profound lesson. It is truly a blessing to want for nothing, to be fully satisfied, to be completely cared for. Yet although, Veachalta Visavatah, is a great blessing - it will only remain so as long as we recognize the blessing within it - and truly thank HaShem.

However, if we stop at Veachalta, Visavatah, as our Posuk does, and fail to include Uverachta, fail to appreciate HaShem's bounty and to express sincere gratitude for all He gives us, then Hishumru Luchem, watch out!! Pen Yifteh Livavichem, lest your hearts be deceived.

G-d's blessings are infinite. The lesson of our Parsha is to be aware of the blessings bestowed upon us, to appreciate them, and to say thank you with utmost sincerity.