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

“I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers.”— Exodus 3:7

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression.”— Isaiah 1:17

“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?”— Micah 6:8

Justice Begins With Listening

The relationship between sh’ma and justice is not indirect or symbolic.

In the biblical imagination, justice is what listening produces.Injustice is what happens when listening collapses.

The first command of Israel is not to act.

Sh’ma Yisrael — Hear, O Israel.

Justice does not begin with law, power, or moral certainty.

It begins with attentiveness.

In Scripture, justice does not begin with power.It begins with listening.

Sh’ma as the Precondition for Justice

Before Israel is commanded to do anything, it is first commanded to listen.

Because injustice thrives wherever:

the powerful stop listening

the powerful stop listening

suffering becomes abstract

suffering becomes abstract

decisions are made far from those who bear their consequences

decisions are made far from those who bear their consequences

Sh’ma interrupts that........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)