Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.Â
Deuteronomy 4:12
Abraham heeded a voice,
not an idol hewn from stone.
The Israelites were summoned
at Sinai by the sound of words.
There was no figure in the fire.
Shema Yisrael
Translates as hear, listen, understand,
but not obey—a term absent in the Torah.
We declare our faith
by promising to pay attention.
As a people, we analyze,
our answers, interrogate terms
for deeper meanings.
We don’t even tell the Passover story
before asking why this night
is different from all others.
At the seder, children are given a job,
to ask questions, to be curious.
Shema Yisrael. Hear, O Israel.
Listen to the still small voice
whispering your name.
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