>> Torah portion
Our
Belief
In One
God
Turn your old GOLD into
CASH! We will buy ALL
of your precious metals,
diamonds & watches.
32940 Middlebelt Rd.
Parshat Vaetchanan: Deuteronomy
3:23-7:11; Isaiah 40:1-26.
Ann Arbor
S
hema Yisrael ... "Hear 0
Israel, the Lord our God, the
Lord is One."
These words, from this week's par-
shah, are so well known, so moving
and so meaningful — and
have served as our affirma-
tion of faith and our con-
nection to community and
to tradition for millennia.
They are the first words
of prayer we teach our
children; and, lihavdeel, to
make a separation, they are
often the last words a Jew
says or hears in this world.
There are many ques-
tions that we can ask about
this six-word declaration,
and one of them is: What do we mean
when we say God is "one"?
Clearly, we believe in one God as
opposed to "many gods:' This has been
a foundation of Jewish belief since the
time of Abraham, even as our biblical
ancestors struggled with the concept
as they attempted to move away from
idolatry.
But, what does it mean to say God
is "one"? While we believe there is one
God and find great meaning in God's
oneness, Jewish tradition expresses the
idea that the "one" God is comprised
of many different aspects in one uni-
fied whole.
Our tradition speaks of God's
complementary attributes of justice
and mercy. We talk about God being
immanent, close to us, offering the
possibility of a personal relationship
while also being transcendent, above
and beyond anything in this world.
And, throughout our tradition, our
psalmists and poets and philosophers
and rabbis have spoken of God using
many different metaphors. God is seen
as a shepherd, a ruler, a parent, a judge
and so many more.
The first of the Ten Commandments,
which we also read in this parshah, is:
"I am the Lord your God:' The midrash
asks why this needed to be said.
One answer states it was critical for
the people to be reminded that, even
though they had seen God as a war-
rior at the Red Sea and as a teacher at
Sinai, they had to understand that this
was the same God display-
ing different attributes as
the situation warranted.
When we think about
God, we think about one
God. But, we also think
about the different relation-
ships we can have with that
one God depending upon
our needs in a given situ-
ation.
When we are alone and
afraid, it is comforting to
think of God as a shep-
herd. When we know we have done
wrong and are looking to improve, it is
motivating to think of God as a judge.
When we are overwhelmed by the
majesty of creation, thinking of God as
a transcendent creator brings ultimate
meaning to that sense of awe.
As we consider the oneness of God
expressed in the Shema, we must be
careful not to confuse oneness and
unity with a one-dimensional view of
God. We should recognize and seek
connection with God in different ways,
depending upon our need at a given
time in our lives. n
Robert Dobrusin is a rabbi at Beth Israel
Congregation in Ann Arbor.
Conversations
• Which "metaphor" for God
resonates most directly for you
right at this moment in your life?
• Are you most in need of a
shepherd, a ruler, a judge or any
of the other descriptive words
our tradition has used?
‘.- 06.
(At 14 Mile Rd. in the Broadway Plaza)
(248) 855-1730
Farmington Hills, Michigan
www.greis.com
DESIGNS IN DECORATOR WOOD & LAMINATES, LTD.
It Doesn't
Have
To Cost
A fortune...
Only Look
Like It!
Complete kitchen and
bathroom remodeling
as well as furniture
design and installations
including granite, wood
and other materials.
Lois Haron Allied Member ASID 248.851.6989
I
Send your college student news from home!
College kids love news from home - the JN will
help keep them in touch with everything that is
happening while they are away!
Call us today and we'll take care of the rest
800.875.6621
SPECIAL COLLEGE PRICING
$20 per year
10 months • In-state only • Call for out of state special rates
Visit theJEWISHNEWS.com
July 18 • 2013
39