by Faith Joy Dantowitz
(Originally published in Ten Minutes of Torah and Reform Voices of Torah)

Sh'ma is often translated as "hear.' There is a difference between "hearing" and "paying attention", and I think we the people Israel are called upon by God to pay attention, to notice God in our lives, and to cultivate awareness.

The Sh'ma reminds us to arouse our thoughts of God in our lives. We can cultivate our awareness simply by reciting this prayer with kavanah, "focused attention" or "meaning". In some synagogues this means being seated and chanting the prayer slowly. In other worship experiences, it may mean chanting the line slowly, word by word, to allow more time to focus our attention. Another option may be repeating the line as a call and response in order to hear the words so that we may truly pay attention. The Sh'ma as a prayer is also a gift in that it is a daily reminder to notice God in our lives.

This verse is followed immediately by V'ahavta. We are told to "Love the Eternalyour God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children" (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).

As we strive to be strong Jewish role models for children, we can also be inspired by their love of God and ability to focus on the Sh'ma. My youngest son often requests a specific melody of the Sh'ma at bedtime. Usually, I quickly sing the simple melody. However, on most occasions he prefers the longer melody and joins in the singing. In doing so, he has taught me a lesson about paying attention. Don't just tuck him in and rush off to the next item on my "to-do" list but focus on this moment. We aren't just going to sleep, we are calling out to God.

The Torah: A Women's Commentary includesMarge Piercy's poem, "V'ahavta" (ed. Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Andrea L. Weiss [New York: URJ Press, 2008], p. 1,088). In it, Piercy captures the goal of the Sh'ma to have us pay attention--to truly listen. This enables us to find love of God and holiness in ourselves and in the world.

. . . We should love ourselves, for we are of G-d . . .
Be quiet and listen to the still small
voice within that speaks in love.
Open to that voice, hear it, heed it and work
            For life.
Let us remember and strive to be good.
Let us remember to find what is holy
within and without.

Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz is the Regional Director of Admissions and Recruitment at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York, New York.

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