The Olympic Spirit of Shema

SHEMA, Yisrael! Adonai, Eloheinu. Adonai Echad.

Hear/Listen, O Israel! Adonai is our God. Adonai is One.

            This week, our world’s attention has been drawn to a central focus– the Olympic games.  These celebrations of athleticism and sportsmanship (ideally) mark for us the coming together of people who ordinarily would have no opportunities or desires to stand side-by-side. American women shared a soccer field with the women from North Korea.  An Israeli swimmer shared a pool with a Palestinian swimmer.  Even LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant are sharing a basketball court in harmony, under the tutelage of local legend Mike Krzyzewski!

            It is most appropriate that our Torah portion this week brings forth our central blessing – the Shema.  With its theme of unity and interconnection, these words, like the Olympic games, remind us of how we are all bound together.  The wisdom and power of this blessing, however, come from the opening of our prayer – Shema – a word that many scholars have concluded means both “listen” and “hear” at the same time.  Only through enacting Shema, opening ourselves to hearing others nearby and honestly listening – openly, without agenda or ego, seeking to learn and not just to make our next point – do we find that place of connection to others through which we understand what it is to be a part of God’s One-ness, echad. 

            We are called upon to be witnesses through this blessing, and every Torah scroll and mezuzah in existence reminds us of this point as the final letters in the first and last words of the prayer are written much larger than the rest of the phrase, forming the Hebrew word, Eid, witness. 

In our world today, especially in our political discourse, there is not enough listening that happens.  All too often politicians, public figures, corporations, religious figureheads, and countless other leaders speak without ever truly listening to any opinion we do not wish to hear.  Without listening, nothing can penetrate the wisdom and conviction of the individual.  But such a state of existence is exactly opposite the oneness of God – it only escalates the oneness of isolation and individualism. 

           

      May we each allow this week’s Torah portion to inspire us to seek opportunities to truly listen to and openly hear other opinions in our midst.  Let us not reject wisdom that comes our way merely because of its source.  As we watch the Olympic games, let us not get caught up solely in the celebration of those who are faster, higher, and stronger (which is fun, don’t get me wrong).  Let us open our hearts and minds to the recognition that many of the seemingly intractable issues in our world are put aside for the chance to be a part of something as big and incredible as the Olympics.  As such, how much the more so should we recognize that it is possible to find and seek peace in our world and communities.  All we have to do is start with Shema.

Rabbi Ari N. Margolis

V’etchanan 5772