Torah Portion
Our Words And Deeds
Underlie Commitment
mercy and truth. What a glorious
privilege it is that we have been called
upon to be such witnesses.
But the Jew who recites the Sh'ma
does more than make a statement
about belief. He also makes a commit-
ment to live by the teachings of this
faith. In the words of our sages, he
n this week's sedrah, we find the
thereby "accepts the yoke of the king-
greatest of all declarations that
dom of heaven." It is not enough to
the Bible contains — the Sh'ma.
profess God in words. He also is to be r,
"Hear, 0 Israel, the Lord is our
loved through deeds. Hence the verse
God, the Lord is One."
of the Sh'ma is followed by the next
This verse is recited every day dur-
passage which declares, "You shall love
ing the morning and evening service.
the Lord, your God, with all
It is the most famous of the
your heart and with all your
Torah's 5,845 verses.
soul and with all your
The infant just learning
might." Subsequent verses
how to speak is taught
define how this love is to be
among the very first words,
expressed — through the
the words of the Sh'ma. The
observance of the com-
Jew whose life is ending sum-
mandments, through the
mons his last energy for the
discipline of daily conduct,
final utterance of this verse.
through the fulfillment of
It is important for us to
sacred acts.
note that the Sh'ma is not
Thus, these verses set forth
RABBI IRWIN
really a prayer which is
the method by which we
GRONER
addressed to God, but rather
may realize the recognition
Special to
is this statement directed to
The Jewish News of the divine unity, as well
other Jews and not only to
as our obligation to love
other Jews, but to one's self.
God and obey His com-
It is not so much a prayer as it is a
mandments. For this very passage of
proclamation, a declaration. Jews are
the Torah is to be written as a sign
reminding each other and telling each
bound to a man's hand, as frontlets
other the most important truth.
before his eyes (tefillin) and on the
Maurice Samuel once observed that
doorposts of his house (mezuzah).
the Jew not only taught monotheism,
Finally, these commandments are
he "sweated it out." Into this doctrine,
not only to be obeyed by the adult
the Jew compressed all he believed
community, but they must be trans-
about God. Out of this doctrine, he
mitted to future generations. For this, -7/\
drew all he believed about humanity
the intensive education of the young is
in the world.
required. "And you shall teach them
Thus, the Sh'ma taught many
diligently unto your children." At the
lessons. The statement negates poly-
very heart of Judaism is this concern
theism, dualism and atheism. It
for the systematic education of the
affirms the unity and order of the nat-
young, first in the family and then on
ural universe and the unity of history
a communal basis.
as the unfolding of the divine plan.
Thus, the Sh'ma is the way of faith,
The God of the Sh'ma is, for the
love, commitment and education. The
Jewish people, not only one but "Our
Sh'ma is our vision and hope that
God," the Almighty to who we are
someday all mankind will recognize
bound in an unbreakable covenant
one God and will become one human-
and whose will we are to fulfill.
ity. ❑
In the text of the Hebrew Bible, the
last letter — ayin — of the first word
"Sh'ma" (hear) is written large, as is
the last letter — daled — of the last
In what way does the recitation of
word "Ehad" (one). These two letters
the Sh'rna provide a unifying
spell the Hebrew word Ed meaning
effect for the Jewish people? How
"witness.
do the words of the Sh'ma aid us
The implication of this commen-
in accepting God's dominion over
tary is that, in reciting the Sh'ma, the
us? What hopes for the future are
Jew bears witness that he believes in
implied in the prayer and how can
the one God, a God of righteousness,
each of us work to bring about
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of
the unification of mankind?
Shabbat Vaetchanan:
Deuteronomy 3:23-
7.11; Isaiah 40:1-26
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