Rabbi's Sermons

Shabat Shalom!

This week’s Parashat Vaetchanan presents the most significant values in Judaism: the repetition of the ten commandments, and the reading of Shema Israel. Today is also Shabbat Nachamu - Shabbat of consolation, the first of the Sheva Denachamuta, so called, the seven Shabbats between the 9^th of Av that we left behind last Sunday and Rosh Hashana – the New Year we await with high expectations.

We are now living complex and very difficult times of antisemitism and war in Israel. It is a challenge not easy to understand, between fears and hopes. Parashat Vaetchanan, in Deuteronomy chapter six, includes a specific command that I would like to focus on today. The commandment to love: "Veahavta, et Adonai Elohecha, bechol levavecha, ubechol nafshecha, ubechol meodecha… - And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might..." and right after this, it mentions how to perform it: "Beshivtecha bebeitecha, ubelejtecha baderech, ubeshochbecha ubekumecha - when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up”. Bet Hillel and Bet Shamai discussed this way in the Mishna Berachot 1:3, and it is normally considered a technical matter. Shamai indicates, that according to what it is written: "when thou liest down and when thou risest up", we should understand, that it is di facto: when you go to sleep and when you wake up every morning. However, Hillel claims, that the way you do it, does not really matter, and relies on the same text that says: "when thou walkest by the way" meaning, always and everywhere.

Israel’s Rabbi Beny Lau, considers the difference not as technical, but deeper, and more significant. Shamai's house emphasizes the word itself – "SHEMA - Listen!” to stop! You cannot keep doing what you normally do, and pray, you need to focus. In fact, this is what we traditionally do, by covering our faces with our hands, or when I ask you to concentrate and think only about the text itself, in order to enter a world of meditation and holiness.

Contrary to Shamai, Hillel teaches us that ANY TIME is appropriate to enter a world of holiness, even if one is jogging or working. Rabbi Lau defines it: "Anyone must learn to receive the King of Kings, also in work clothes". Within the vain and profane, in the day-to-day tasks, all the activities of a person should prepare him to be ready to meet his creator. This is the way the Eternal has met our patriarchs and leaders: Abraham, Yaacov, Moshe, King David, the prophets, all of them while performing their daily activities, received a call. Imagine that you would hear a Bat-Kol, a voice calling you, during your normal activities! That leads us to maintain a moral, fair, and upright life, always, like the Scouts: "always ready". “Ubelejtecha baderech - when thou walkest by the way” – invites us to be accountable for all our actions: before the creator of the Universe, before ourselves and those around us. It is a personal responsibility before our community, to maintain the values ​​which compose the essence of our Jewish life: tolerance, respect, tikun olam! Our Jewish life is obviously not limited to four cubits, aprox. 6 feet – which the halacha requires to remain restricted to, before reciting “Shema Israel”, nor to the four walls which enclose a synagogue, but to the four winds, openly, in Shabbat clothes or in work clothes, it is the same.

Perhaps this explains why the beginning of Isaiah's haftara, this Shabbat Nachamu, strengthens us, and requests from us that the voice of “Shema Israel”, shall leave the congregation confinements, and reach a public and open space. We shall make known to everyone, that our values ​​and actions are those that represent the most sacred ideology of our people. The prophet Isaiah wrote in Ch. 40:

"“^ט עַל הַר גָּבֹהַּ עֲלִי לָךְ, מְבַשֶּׂרֶת צִיּוֹן, הָרִימִי בַכֹּחַ קוֹלֵךְ, מְבַשֶּׂרֶת יְרוּשָׁלִָם, הָרִימִי, אַל תִּירָאִי, אִמְרִי לְעָרֵי יְהוּדָה, הִנֵּה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם” ישעיהו מ’

“⁹ Oh Zion, that brings good tidings, get you up into the high mountain; Oh Jerusalem, that brings good tidings, lift up your voice with strength. Lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Yehuda, ‘Behold this is your God!’".

Let us raise our voices with a strong: SHEMA ISRAEL - Hear Oh Israel! and keep living our Judaism with moral and ethical values. With security, with determination, day by day specially during these challenging times we are living for our people. With the words of “Ubelejtecha baderech - when you walk the way”, I remember that after all, it is our own way that defines our destiny. The beautiful melody written by Paul Anka and performed by Frank Sinatra, with its lyrics about walking one's own path through life:

"And now, the end is near / And so I face the final curtain / My friend, I'll say it clear / I'll state my case, of which I'm certain / I've lived a life that's full / I traveled each and every highway / and more, much more than this I did it my way".

Shabat Shalom!

Rabbi David Laor

August 8^th, 2025