By: Yisrael Yitzchak Rosenfeld
In the Sefer Yetzirah,
the kabbalistic Book of Creation,
the Month of Av is associated with the sense of hearing:
“Crown the letter Tet (ט) through listening …”
The ARIzal reveals that the Divine Name of HaShem associated with Av is ה–ו–י–ה (Havaja),
an unusual arrangement of the letters, which forms the acronym of the following verse:
“Hasket u’shma Yisrael ha-yom” –
“Be silent and listen, Israel – today.”
(Devarim 27:9)
Rashi z”l,
whose yahrzeit we commemorated only yesterday, explains:
This verse means that we should receive the Torah every single day
as if we were hearing it for the very first time.
This is the inner power of Av:
To listen again.
Not merely to hear with the ears, but to listen with the soul.
And it is no coincidence that our Sages established that Parashat Devarim is always read on Shabbat Chazon – the Shabbat immediately preceding
Tisha B’Av.
The prophet pleads:
“Take words with you and return to HaShem.”
(Hosea 14:3)
Rebbe Nachman z”l teaches:
Do not read only Devarim
– read Dibburim – words.
Take the words themselves. Use them.
For the heart of Teshuvah (repentance and return) is simple:
Speak with HaShem.
Speak Torah.
Speak from your soul.
Our Sages taught
that the entire Torah rests upon these two powers:
Speaking and listening.
To hear the voice of HaShem,
to pay attention to the stirrings of our conscience,
and to speak
– as a response.
To react.
To pray.
To restore the connection.
May we be blessed during this month
to hear the voice of HaShem,
which speaks to us from within our reality –
through challenges, through compassion, through clarity.
May we listen deeply
and through words of truth find our way back to ourselves.
