Parashat Va’etchanan includes one of the best-known sentences in the Torah, “Shema Yisrael, Hashem Eloheinu, Hashem Echad ” (Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One; Deuteronomy 6:4).
Interestingly, the ayin, the last letter of the Hebrew word “Hear,” is written large in the Torah scroll, as is the daled, the last letter of the Hebrew word for “One.” Different readings of the combined letters ayin and daled may reveal why this is so.
The letters ayin-daled can be read ed, which means “to bear witness.” In reading the “Hear O Israel,” one is in effect testifying that God exists (Baal Haturim).
This is reminiscent of the time when Jacob and Esau make a peace treaty near a mound of stones called gal’ed, literally a mound (gal) of testimony (ed; Genesis 31:46–48).
Alternatively, the letters ayin-daled can be read ad, which means “until.” In other words, no matter one’s belief in God, it can never be perfect, never absolutely absolute. One can come until the Lord but never quite reach Him.
This is similar to the text describing repentance – “and you shall return until [ad] the Lord your God,” as no one can ever return fully to God (Deuteronomy 30:2).
Finally, the letters ayin-daled can be read od, meaning “still.” This perhaps accentuates that, against all odds, Jews throughout history in the darkest of times still declared belief in God.
This is similar to the use of the word od when Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, asking, “Ha’od avi chai?” (Is my father still alive? Genesis 45:3). In amazement, Joseph rhetorically asks, Having endured so much, is my father still alive?
These three ideas deserve mention during the Shabbat when Parashat Va’etchanan is read, the first of the seven weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. After all, the High Holidays are days when we serve as witnesses and proclaim the rulership of God, creator of the world; when we seek to repent while knowing that we will never fully realize repentance; and when we recognize that, no matter how far we’ve strayed, no matter the setbacks, we will overcome – our relationship with God remains close, reaching higher and higher.
We believe in God, and God believes in us.
Candle lighting
Va’etchanan parsha
August 16th at 7:37 p.m.
