Listening and the Work of Justice

Scripture“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.”— Deuteronomy 6:4

“Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed.”— Isaiah 1:17

The Sh’ma begins with a command: Hear.This command is not only about devotion to God—it is about how we live with one another. To hear rightly is to be open to truth, even when that truth is uncomfortable or disruptive.

In the biblical tradition, listening is closely tied to justice.

The prophet Isaiah calls the people to action: “Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed.” But this kind of action does not begin in isolation. It begins with attention. It begins with listening—to God, and to the lived experiences of those who have been harmed.

Listening does more than reveal injustice—it opens the door to repair.

When communities truly hear the experiences of those who have been marginalized, ignored, or harmed, something begins to shift. What was once distant becomes personal. What was once abstract becomes undeniable. Listening brings hidden........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)