One of the most interesting and inspiring moments in our Torah portion occurs in Chapter 24 when Moses tells the people all the commands and rules that the Lord has for them. Emphatically, all the people answered with one voice, saying, "All the things that the Lord has commanded we will do.” Later in verse 7, the people of Israel say, “All that the Lord has spoken we will faithfully do.”
The two Hebrew words that are worth highlighting are Na’aseh and V’nishmah, the literal translation of them is we will do and will obey. When the children of Israel reply this way after Moses tells them all of the laws, it shows their faithful acceptance of their role as G-d’s chosen people. It is impressive that the Israelites are so eager to take on all of G-d’s laws before they really understand them. It shows how much faith they have in the path G-d is setting out for them.
“According to a Talmudic legend, the angels were so impressed with this show of faith that they came down from heaven and placed two crowns on the head of each Israelite, one for doing (Na’aseh) and one for obeying or seeking to understand (V’nishma). Just as we accept medicine from our doctors on trust without understanding what it is or how it works, and commit ourselves to marriage, to parenthood, and to a career as acts of faith before we fully understand what they entail, so too the Israelites accepted G-d’s will.
There are many things in life that we cannot appreciate before we have lived them and come to appreciate their value. We must do them first (Na’aseh) and only afterward realize why (V’nishma)” (Etz Chayim 478)
Shabbat Shalom, Cantor Diamond
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, January 28th at 4:49 PM
HAVDALAH Saturday, January 29th at 5:15 PM
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REFUAH SHELEIMAH (A SPEEDY RECOVERY)
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Barbara Cohen Jesse Cohen Sheldon Drucker Ruben Feldstein Cathy Gabel Tucky Krasner Ilyse Leibowitz Wallace Leifer Warren Siegel Edward Steinman
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