One Love
In this week’s portion, Va-et’chanan, we encounter some of the most iconic verses in Torah: Shema and the first paragraph of Ve’ahavta. These concepts—an affirmation of God’s identity and essence, and the love that such an awareness evokes—were so fundamental to Judaism that our tradition integrated them as the core of our liturgy.
On a more spiritual level, we are encouraged to move from awareness to action—from humility in the presence of God to a loving experience of God which compels deed. These acts are directed, not at placating a jealous God, but toward bringing blessing and comfort to the world that God created—aligning God’s vision for the world with our capacity and willingness to making it real.
Rabbi Daniel Weiner