 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

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