What Does It Really Mean to Hear?
Jo Ann Howard, President
Just a few months ago, during the month of Elul, Jewish tradition urged us to reflect on the past year and think
about whom we have helped and whom we have hurt. Often times the hurt is caused because we are not
good listeners. We are more focused on what we are feeling or what we want to share. Take time to reflect on
the prayer “Listen” by Rabbis Jack Riemer and Harold Kushner to help understand how we may unknowingly
hurt others and how we can make the secular year 2025 a positive one for ourselves and those around us.
Judaism begins with the commandment: Hear, O Israel!
But what does it really mean to hear?
The person who attends a concert with a mind on business, hears, but does not really hear.
The person who walks amid the songs of the birds and thinks only of what will be served for
dinner, hears-but does not really hear.
The one who listens to the words of a friend, or spouse, or child, and does not catch the note of
urgency: “Notice me, help me, care about me,” hears-but does not really hear.
The person who stifles the sound of conscience and thinks “I have done enough already”, hears
but does not really hear.
The person who listens to the rabbi’s sermon and thinks someone else is being addressed, hears,
but does not really hear.
O Lord, Sharpen our ability to hear.
May we hear the music of the world, and the infant’s cry, and the lover’s sigh.
May we hear the call for help of the lonely soul, and the sound of the breaking heart.
May we hear the words of our friends, and also their unspoken pleas and dreams.
May we hear within ourselves the yearnings that are struggling for expression.
May we hear You, O God.
For only if we hear You, do we have the right to hope that You will hear us.
Hear the prayers we offer to You, O God, and may we hear them too