Rabbi Mendy's Blog

Everywhere we turn, it feels like people are talking past each other. Opinions fly, voices rise, yet true listening is absent. This inability to hear one another has created deep fractures in our society, leaving us more divided than ever. We desperately yearn for connection, for peace, for healing. But how do we get there?

The answer lies in one of the most fundamental prayers in Jewish life: Shema Yisrael. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.” Which we encountered in last week’s portion and continues in this week’s Torah portion Eikev. The word Shema does not mean “say” or “proclaim.” It means “listen.” Before we declare our faith, before we speak, the Torah commands us to listen.

Listening, in Judaism, is not passive. To listen is to open our hearts, to be present, to connect. When we truly listen, we recognize that we are not isolated individuals but part of something greater. G-d begins by asking us to listen to Him, because listening is the foundation of all relationships—between us and G-d, and between us and each other.

Our world is fractured because we have lost the ability to listen. Instead of hearing the pain, the hope, and the humanity of others, we drown it out with our own noise. The Torah teaches us that healing begins with listening. Just as we are commanded to listen to G-d’s voice, we must also train ourselves to listen to the voices of those around us.

When we achieve that inner unity, something remarkable happens: we become unshakable. History has shown that when the Jewish people are united within, no external danger, no threat, and no persecution can break us. Our strength has never come from numbers or power but from the deep bond we share with one another and with G-d. Division weakens us, but unity fortifies us; when we listen, connect, and stand as one, we can withstand anything that comes from the outside.

When we learn to listen, we discover connection. And when connection flourishes, division shrinks. This is why the Shema has carried our people through exile and persecution, why it is whispered on our lips in moments of both triumph and tragedy. It is a reminder that listening fosters unity, and unity brings peace.

If we want to heal the brokenness of our society, we must start by listening—with patience, with humility, and with love. By listening to G-d, by listening to each other, we create the harmony we so desperately seek. And when we do, the words of the Shema will no longer be just a prayer we recite, but a reality we live: Oneness, peace, and unity for all.

"So when negativity surrounds," This famous lyric by Matisyahu is in his incredible song "One Day", sounds like it was written for today. As the summer winds down and we begin looking ahead, some of us might be overwhelmed by the intense negativity surrounding our world and especially our community. What do we do? How do we cope? 

The answer lies in this week's Torah portion, where we read the second rendition of the Ten Commandments, as spoken by Moshe to the Jewish people before they entered the Land of Israel. While the commandments are essentially the same as the first version given at Mount Sinai, there are subtle but profound differences. 

One of the most famous changes is in the commandment about Shabbat. At Sinai, we were told "Zachor et Yom HaShabbat" – remember the Shabbat. Here, Moshe tells us "Shamor et Yom HaShabbat" – guard the Shabbat. Our sages teach that Zachor and Shamor are two sides of the same coin. Remembering Shabbat is the positive – to honor it, speak of it, and fill it with joy. Guarding Shabbat is the protective – to ensure nothing desecrates it, to shield its holiness from intrusion. 

Moshe, standing on the threshold of the Land of Israel, was teaching a critical lesson: it's not enough to cherish something; we must also protect it from harm. This message, given at the close of forty years of wandering, was rooted in history. The Jewish people had faced many tests in the desert, and Moshe was reminding them not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

The lesson applies far beyond Shabbat. In our own lives, it's not enough to "remember" the good – our values, our heritage, our connection to G-d. We must also actively "guard" them from anything that can chip away at their strength. In today's world, challenges come from both the outside and the inside. Outside, there is a constant stream of cynicism, distraction, and moral confusion. Inside, we can sometimes let doubt, fear, or negativity take root. Moshe's words ring out across the generations: protect the sanctity of your inner world just as fiercely as you protect your holy days.

When the Jewish people take this approach, cherishing what is good while shielding it from harm, we remain spiritually strong. This inner strength is what enables us to withstand any challenge without letting darkness seep into our souls. It is also the spiritual posture that prepares us for redemption. Moshe promised the people that they would inherit and inhabit the Land of Israel. That promise is eternal. By guarding both our Shabbat and our spirit from all negativity, we pave the way for the ultimate fulfillment of that promise, when we will enter the Land in peace and holiness with the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our days.