AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 31
M
emory and recollec-
tion are fundamental
attributes we depend
on to live meaningful and
successful lives. We use tech-
niques to remind ourselves of
important tasks, appointments
and occasions. From calendars
to sticky notes, shopping
lists and pill organizers,
we utilize an array of
tools to remember what
we deem important.
We adorn walls
and mantels with art,
mementos and motiva-
tional mantras. The clas-
sic “Home sweet home”
reminds us that we are
fortunate to have a roof
over our heads and a
family who supports
and loves us. Wedding
portraits reaffirm our love and
commitment, reminding us
of the day we celebrated our
marriage. An artfully decorated
“If not now, when?” (Pirkei
Avot 1:14) reaffirms “the day is
short, and the work is plentiful”
(Pirkei Avot 2:15), “don’
t put off
for later what you can do now.
”
Our Jewish rituals, too,
incorporate reminders. During
shacharit (the daily morning
service), many recite a collec-
tion of biblical verses referenc-
ing the exodus from Egypt, the
receiving of the Torah, the war
with Amalek, the golden calf,
Miriam’
s slander of her brother
Moses and the Sabbath day.
Collectively these are referred
to as the Shesh Zechirot. the “six
remembrances,
” and the Torah
makes special mention that we
recall these events.
Some recollections are
painful but are part of our
consciousness as a people. The
Talmud instructs us to leave
a portion of the wall near the
door unfinished to remind
us of the destruction of the
Temple. At a Jewish wedding,
there are traditions meant
to remind us of the loss of
Jerusalem, including the sing-
ing of the hauntingly beautiful
song “If I forget you Jerusalem”
(Psalm 137:5, 6).
In this week’
s Torah portion,
we have, perhaps, the most
well-known of “reminders”
for us as Jews. Moses
instructs the Israelites
that the mezuzah should
be placed on our houses
and gateways, and tefillin
placed as a sign on our
arms and adornments on
our heads.
Each of these sacred
and ritual objects contain
passages of scripture
reminding us of funda-
mental events and our
responsibilities as Jews.
The mezuzah contains
the first two paragraphs of the
Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9
and 11:13-21), and the tefillin
contain four separate para-
graphs (Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16,
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-
21).
The passages from Exodus
remind us of our salvation from
Egypt by the hand of God and
our commitment to acknowl-
edge God’
s providence through
our actions. The passages from
Deuteronomy remind us of
God’
s sovereignty, our duty to
pass the traditions to our chil-
dren and His commitment to
sustain us as we dedicate our-
selves to His service.
As we perform the daily ritu-
al of donning tefillin and when
we acknowledge a mezuzah as
we pass through a doorway, we
have an opportunity to recall
and reaffirm our partnership
with God, who took us out of
Egypt and who continues to
sustain us today, to do our part
to ensure the continuity and
vibrancy of our faith.
Rabbi Azaryah Cohen is head of
school at Frankel Jewish Academy
in West Bloomfield.
Parshat Ekev:
Deuteronomy
7:12-11:25;
Isaiah
49:14-51:3.
Rabbi
Azaryah
Cohen
Spirit
torah portion
Lest We Forget
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