Devar Torah
Liahm Simon
Na’asseh veNishma
We will do and we will hear
Below is the Devar Torah written and shared by Liahm Simon (Year 11) with his peers in our Monday tefillot.
We are taught to hear and do, and not to ask questions. We are taught that sometimes it’s best not to ask questions, and Judaism says the same.
In this week’s Parashah Yitro, the Israelites arrive at the foot of Mount Sinai. God then commands the people of Israel to prepare themselves for the giving of The 10 Commandments by purifying themselves.
The People of Israel hear this commandment from God and immediately respond, without thinking about it. They listen and do what he says. Throughout the next 43 parshiyot, Bnei Yisrael will blindly follow God and listen to everything he says and do everything he says, all culminating in the final loss of faith through the building of the golden calf, all because they blindly listened to God (tradition says they believed it would be 40 days before Moses descended, but they didn’t know it would also be 40 nights not 39). So, on the 40th night and the 41st day, when Moses did not descend from the mountain they built the golden calf, recognised as a cardinal sin on the part of the people. This event is a culmination of what starts in this week’s Parashah Yitro. The Jewish nation has forgotten to question and properly understand the doings which they must undertake.
There is no set path to take in life, every person’s path is different. This is why in Parashah Yitro we receive the pillar of Judaism – whatever type of Judaism, whatever your personal beliefs are, whether you’re in the diaspora or in Israel, whether you are secular or religious, Orthodox, Haredi or Reform, every single type of Judaism begins with the understanding that there are 10 dibrot (commandments) that we must follow every day. From respecting our parents, to honouring the Shabbat, to reminding us not to kill or steal.
Some rabbis have said in their commentary that the 10 dibrot are given in a basic form so that we should not alter them or change them by asking too many questions, because the longer they are the more would be up for dispute. Even keeping the Shabbat is not written like we might believe it is written, that you shall honour and remember the seventh day by not working, by your workers not working and your animals not working. It is a day of rest. It does not state all of the 39 forbidden actions but instead just acts as a reminder that for every six days of work you shall have a seventh day off.
However you may want to interpret it is up to you – you can question and ponder, but Judaism says you must have a rest. If rest, to you, is not driving and not using electricity, that is up to you, and if it is relaxing by the pool, that is also ok. There is no set right way or wrong way, that is what Judaism teaches you. But there are also times where you need to stop questioning and relax. The pillars of Judaism are pillars of humanity, so Judaism is asking you to fight for yours’ and others’ humanity.
In today’s world, we can choose our fights, we have the freedom to question and speak what we want and when we want. This freedom is not a right, it is a privilege and it is a privilege that each of us is lucky enough to have. But my question to everyone here is, do we use this privilege? Do we fight for what we believe in? Do we take action or do we act as an innocent bystander? The Torah today teaches us that there is time to follow what you are told, just like there are times in life to say yes and move on. But when is the right time to question and when isn’t? What is the right course of action to take when you do not know what to do? Do you stand up for yourself or do you stand up for what you believe in because sometimes these two things can mean you take two different types of action.
Some people believe there is nothing more important than education, some believe the most important part of your life is access to good healthcare, but what Judaism teaches you and what Emanuel, our School, teaches you is that whatever your passion is, pursue it, do not let your dreams be dreams, do not let someone tell you that you are wrong but you must question them and fight for what you believe in. So, when God says said Na’she V’nishma, do first and understand later, it does not just have to mean blindly follow someone else, it can mean follow your instincts and find out what that is later.