torah portion

SIMPLY THE

BEST

A Mission Statement
For The Jewish People

W

hy? Well, why not?”
As children, our earli-
est questions start with
“Why”? Why do I have to go to bed?
Why is the sky blue? Why do I have
to eat my broccoli? It is through this
exploration of whys that we are able
to gain a better understand-
shall not, at all.
ing of our world as well as
There is a beautiful midrash
test our own boundaries and
that
takes place when Jacob
limitations. “Why? Because I
(aka
Israel) was on his death
said so!”
bed,
surrounded
by his sons.
At a recent JCC senior
Jacob
feared
that
once he died,
staff retreat, we watched and
the
belief
in
one
God
would
then discussed a well known
die
with
him.
As
he
is
lying
Simon Sinek Ted Talk called
Jeff Lasday
there, his sons turn to him and
“Start with Why” in order
say Shema Yisrael — Listen
for us to develop an answer
up
Israel — the Lord our God,
to the question of “Why is
the
Lord is One.” Jacob is so
the JCC?” In his talk, Sinek
relieved
and appreciative that
describes his Golden Circle
his
belief
in one God had been
where “why” can be found at
passed
onto
his
sons that he says,
the center, “what” in the next outer
“Baruch
shame
kavod
mlchuto l’olam
ring and “how” in the far outer ring.
va’ed,” “Praised be God’s kingdom
He explains that all too often we start
forever and ever.” Relieved, Jacob
with the how and the what, when
where we should really be starting out then goes on to bless his sons. And
according to midrash, this is why in
is with why. Instead of asking what do
our prayer service we say this phrase
you do or how you do it, we should
start and be more focused on why it is following the recitation of the first line
done at all. Sinek states, “It’s not about of the Shema.
In many ways, the Shema serves as
what you do; it’s about why you do it”.
the mission statement of the Jewish
The why describes our purpose, our
people. It symbolizes the core of
underlying mission.
Judaism. It is a Jew’s declaration of
This week’s portion reminds of us
faith. We recite the Shema twice a day,
of our Jewish why. Within the par-
morning and evening, to remind our-
shat, we find both the repetition of
selves, why. •
the Ten Commandments, starting
with the first commandment “I am
Jeffrey Lasday is a Jewish educator and the
the Lord your God” and the Shema
new chief operating officer of the Jewish
“Hear, Oh Israel, the Lord our God,
Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit.
the Lord is one.” Here we are able to
discern the essential why of Judaism.
CONVERSATIONS
Why concern ourselves about
If you were to create your own per-
the what’s and the how’s of the Ten
sonal mission statement, what would
Commandments? Because at our
it be? What values and phrases
essence we believe in a world cre-
would you want to include in your
ated and ruled by one united spirit.
Before the Ten Commandments can
family’s mission statement? If not
describe how we should behave,
the Shema, then what mission state-
what we should or should not do,
ment would you suggest for the
they provide the answer to the
Jewish people?
essential question of why shall or

Parshat V’etchanan:
Deuteronomy 3:23-
7:11; Isaiah 40:1-26.

DROP-INS
WELCOME!

AGEs 2 aNd up

no potty-training
required!

sUMMER

FOR THE FULL

SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULE AND TO REGISTER, VISIT

FRANKLINCLUB.COM/CAMPS

248.352.8000 ext. 314

29350 Northwestern Hwy

jn

Southfield, Mi 48034

August 3 • 2017

29

