Day 43: שׁוֹמֵעַ וּמוֹסִיף / Hearing what has been said and then adding
In some sense, today we come full circle to our early foundation of first listening (day 2) and only then speaking (day 3). But recent days have explored the importance and limits of our authority, so we must think more carefully about hearing and speaking through that lens.
Towards the end of the Torah, God instructs the Israelites, "Be careful to observe only that which I enjoin upon you: neither add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 13:1). Does this enjoinder leave no space for dynamism? Of course not. The Torah has always evolved and adapted. So what are the parameter of our ability to add to what we've heard?
At its core, today delineates between invention and innovation. Invention unseats the past, replacing the old with the new. Innovation, on the other hand, shows deference to the past, protecting its essence but tailoring it to new circumstances. The latter is our work, and is the vision of our tradition: Teachers mentoring students who then become teachers themselves.
Reflection:
Does invention play any role in personal development and religious life?
What do you think is at the core of Judaism that remains unchanged through the generations?
Lived practice:
Heading into Shabbat, read something about the parasha. It could be from your shul, from a book, online, etc. After reading it, write your main takeaway in 2 sentences. Then in 2 more sentences, write your own addition to that message.
