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V'haya
Eem Shamoa: Listening (Deuteronomy 11:13-21)
interpretive translation by Rabbi
Dina-Hasida Mercy
If you listen, really listen to the words of
teaching that I give you this day:
That is: to love God and serve God
wholeheartedly,
Then the difficulties of this life will seem
less harsh, because God's presence will guide you.
Be careful not to think that your
accomplishments are yours alone,
rather remember that it is God's grace
that empowers you.
Know that you are part of the cycles of this
life, that what you do will come back to you:
That if you do not love yourself, the
world will appear loveless
That if you do not respect the godliness
in others, God's presence will not be apparent to you;
That if you do not recognize God as the
source of your strength, your strength may sometimes fail you;
That if you put toxins into your air,
earth, and water, they will reappear as poisons in your food.
Remember that these consequences result from
losing touch with your God,
therefore you must concentrate on keeping
God ever present in your life.
One way that you can do this is by keeping
that God-connection close, close to your heart and to your eyes, so that you
experience the world from a place of holiness.
Put symbols of holiness on your hands, in
order to remember that your hands do good work, that is God's work.
See God reflected in all the doings and beings
of your life.
See God reflected in your children and teach
them this way of living.
Work hard on this
connectedness, knowing that it will not be easy, but knowing that it could give
you peace of mind.
Then with God's help may you live contentedly
here, on this planet which God gives you,
for as long as the heavens are
above the earth.
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