Rabbi Moskowitz's Message

THE V’AHAVTA: A SONG OF LOVE

The Sh’ma is known as the central declaration of Jewish belief: There is only one God. As is characteristic of Jewish wisdom, combusting within the simplicity of this declaration is a complexity of interpretations. Its apparent clarity evolves into an intriguing ambiguity that is provoked by the very grammar and structure of the Hebrew itself. To learn all that this assembly of six Hebrew words has to teach us requires that we extend ourselves beyond its rote recitation. We need to tune into the fullness of its meaning and the blessings which embrace it on either side.

The translation of the Sh’ma is complicated by the absence of a verb in the Hebrew. We construct the presence of a verb in order to shape grammatical coherence, and we presume that to be the verb “to be.” In Biblical Hebrew there is no present tense of the verb “to be.” Thus, a literal translation of the Sh’ma would be: “Hear O Israel Adonai our God Adonai one.” The verbal vacancy within the Sh’ma engenders an array of interpretations about its exact meaning: Adonai is the only One; Israel and Adonai are one; Adonai is the one we worship; Adonai is all there is. That a mere six-word statement about singularity should fragment into a burst of meaning attests to the richness and vitality of Jewish wisdom.

However, one may understand these six words (and for each of us it may change over the course of our lives, or even day to day), what remains stable are the expressions of love that they connect. The Sh’ma is preceded by a blessing, Ahavah rabah (“a great love”). It is a prayer that expresses the love that God has for us, as demonstrated primarily by providing us with Torah, a body of wisdom designed to help us live in sacred harmony with the Source of all creation.

The Sh’ma is immediately followed by the V’ahavta (“and you shall love”). This prayer expresses the love that we reciprocate toward God in appreciation for all that we have been given. Touchingly, this prayer consists of words drawn straight from the Torah. We demonstrate awareness of the value of the divine gift by using it in our expression of thanks. And the particular words of Torah that we incorporate into our thanks consists of those which state our commitment to study them, to live by them day in and day out, and to teach them to our children.

As with all verses from the Torah, those in the V’ahavta have attached to them a traditional trope, a melody by which they are to be chanted. Symbols for that trope are included in the V’ahavta text as printed in our Mishkan T’filah. In order to honor the original format of this prayer of love and to support our b’nai mitzvah student in their study of Torah trope, we will begin chanting the V’ahavta according to this traditional melody beginning with our Family Shabbat Service in October. We will then incorporate this melody at all subsequent services. To assist all of us in learning this melody, we will email to everyone in the congregation this summer an audio file of the V’ahavta. We will also have available CDs for those unable to download an audio file. Please look for this wonderful opportunity to learn how to chant the V’ahavta according to Torah trope this summer. Echoing within this change is an honoring of our past in the service of the future. It is a prayer of love.

The Torah is a story about hearing God’s call and choosing to embrace a sacred destiny. It is a story about journeys into a life of holiness. Every year, Temple Israel conducts an Introduction to Judaism class, which offers those not born into Judaism a portal into a life of spiritual and ethical meaning framed by the wisdom of Jewish tradition. It is a profoundly transforming experience not only for those who take the class, but also for all of us as we are inspired by their sense of spiritual renewal through Judaism. One young woman who took the class said: "I was a seed. With Judaism I’ve become a rose." Through this regular column, Journeys to Judaism, come to know the rich and vibrant garden that is blossoming here at Temple Israel through our Introduction to Judaism program. --- Rabbi Steven Moskowitz