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It was asked to a number of us a few months ago by someone doing research, what prayer we found most important. I along with many others answered, the Sh’ma. Our faith in one God is defined by the 6-word statement, “Hear, O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is one.” And yet this prayer that is about wholeness, completeness and oneness, kind of sounds exclusive in its command….HEAR. If one cannot hear, can they be authentically Jewish? Does Judaism have something against deaf people? And even if we find that Judaism itself doesn’t discriminate against deaf people, do Jewish institutions?

I read an amazing article this week about Rabbi Darby Leigh who is profoundly deaf and leads a congregation (not a deaf one) in Massachusetts. His story is incredible. You can read it here. Rabbi Leigh says, “The mainstream Jewish community has done a really good job of telling some Jewish people they don’t really belong here, whether they’re women, queer, non-conforming, Jews of color, converted Jews, interfaith families or families where the mother is not Jewish,” he said. “I wanted to find those people and bring them into my synagogue because until they’re here it’s not really a synagogue. It’s like a private country club until it reflects the spirit of God’s creation.”

Of course we don’t only hear with our ears. As Jews I have found that we mostly hear with our hearts--we practice compassion. Hearing is also referenced in this week’s Torah portion. When Moses shares the Torah with the Israelites for the first time at Mount Sinai, they respond, “Na’aseh ve-nishma, we will do and we will hear.” It seems that it should be opposite, no? That first we should hear (what the instructions are), and then we should do them. One way to interpret this curious order of responses might be, “We will do what the Torah says (now), and we will keep listening to its words to gain greater understanding (in the future).” This is hearing Torah with the heart.

Sometimes it takes a deaf man to teach us how to hear. As we strive to sharpen our awareness of how we may be exclusive in our community, let us commit to doing words of Torah and continue to hear its message with our hearts, leading us to a life of compassion and inclusivity.

To hear other stories of inclusivity, we encourage you to attend our Shabbat Service Marking Disability Awareness Month, as well as another installment of Hineini, Gaining a New Perspective with musician Nick May, next Friday, January 19.

Shabbat Shalom,

Beth