Listen With Your Heart
The word shema (listen) appears in its various forms in Parshat Va’etchanan 23 times. And to top it all off, the “Shema” prayer is also included. Moses tells his beloved nation: I will not enter Israel with you, so you are on your own. In order to do what’s right without me, you need to learn how to listen. It is only through listening that you will learn how to love (“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart”). Loving will open your heart to the oneness of the universe (“The Eternal God is one”), and that will bring you understanding.
So, practice listening — listen to the trees in the breeze; listen to your cat purring; listen to your parents’ words of love. Every so often, stop what you’re doing and listen.
Lessons From Tisha B’Av
The fast of Tisha B’Av lasted from sunset on Aug. 6 through sunset on Aug. 7. Hope you had an easy fast.
Alex and Talya were driving in the car with their parents. They were reading license plates when Talya called out to her parents: “Did you know that this month is Tisha B’Av?” Here are the license plates she read that reminded her. What do they say?
A Shabbat Poem
by Reut Rotem, Age 7, Beverly Hills
Weekdays are very fun,
But when Friday comes,
It’s time to rest.
So we say the brachot
And we go to sleep.
And on Saturday,
It’s time to eat!
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