Rabbi Brad Levenberg
The Book of Deuteronomy begins with Moses speaking. He’s spent forty years leading the Israelites, arguing with them, defending them, becoming frustrated with them, and refusing to abandon them. Now, as they prepare to enter the Promised Land without him, Moses offers them the words that have become the most familiar declaration in Jewish life: Shema Yisrael, “Listen, Israel.”
Listening is more demanding than hearing. We hear sounds without making any effort at all, but listening asks us to pause long enough for another person’s words to reach us. It requires the humility to consider that we may not yet understand and the patience to resist preparing our response while someone else is still speaking.
That kind of listening feels increasingly rare, in large part because we live in a culture that rewards quick reactions and confident declarations. Nearly every disagreement becomes an invitation to choose a side, defend a position, or announce an opinion. We’re surrounded by people speaking, yet so many of us feel that no one is truly listening.
So, on this Shabbat, may we listen with greater patience to those closest to us and with greater curiosity to those whose experiences are different from our own. In a world so loudly filled with words, may the Shema remind us of the power that comes from listening and allowing another person’s voice to reach us before we decide what we have to say.
