Rabbi Daniel Braune-Friedman
This week’s Torah portion is Shelach: Numbers 13:1 – 15:41
If you woke any Jewish person in the middle of the night and asked them for the most important verse in the Torah, they would likely say, “the Shema.” While I might respectfully disagree — an argument for another time — there’s no doubt the Shema holds unparalleled significance. When we recite it, we cover our eyes, following different customs, but always with profound intention.
The reasons for this practice vary. Some say it enhances concentration; others suggest it signifies reverence. For me, it symbolizes our role as witnesses to God’s oneness. Rabbi Yosef Karo, in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 61:5), teaches that covering our eyes helps block distractions, heightening our focus on the verse’s meaning. The Zohar (Parashat Vayechi 223b) deepens this idea, explaining that the act rejects the fragmented perception of physical reality, aligning instead with the divine unity the Shema proclaims.
This week’s parsha also underscores the need to look beyond physical reminders and elevate our faith. At its outset, Moses sends 12 men, not as spies like those in our haftarah, but as scouts to “tour” the land. The Hebrew word used is Veh’yahturu, which Onkelos translates as “to look around.” Rashi notes that this same word appears at the parsha’s end as a warning: do not be distracted, even by your heart. Instead, focus on the tzitzit — a tangible reminder of the mitzvot.
Distractions abound for us this week, as many of us receive constant updates on the ongoing war in Israel. We read about attacks by and against Israel, and yet we must not lose sight of the 53 hostages still held in Gaza — now for 623 days. Our hearts may lead us toward hopelessness, but the Torah teaches us not to be distracted by our emotions alone. It urges us to return to the mitzvot — the God-given path that provides direction for every moment of our lives.
Judaism, however, recognizes exceptions, such as Aninut, the period between a loved one’s death and their burial. During this time, we are exempt from mitzvot to focus on the burial — a vital obligation. The rabbis explain this exemption with two reasons: the overwhelming importance of arranging the burial and the mourner’s inability to focus on blessings due to grief.
Over the past 623 days, where have our thoughts been? Are we immersed in our daily tasks? Distracted by the news? Praying for the hostages? Supporting Israel through charity or advocacy? Likely, we are doing all these things at once. I encourage you to pause and take stock of where you are. Recognize what you’re doing and allow yourself to be present in it. Are we doing what we are supposed to be doing, or are we too distracted by the news? Perhaps we have felt shame by forgetting about Israel or ignoring our responsibilities. Have we celebrated too much or not enough? Are we too joyful or too depressed?
When we cover our eyes during the Shema or gaze at the tzitzit, we remind ourselves to focus on God and the commandments. Similarly, in these difficult times, be intentional about your feelings. Talk to someone, write to someone. Share how it feels to read the news — don’t carry it alone. Pray for the hostages or for friends in bomb shelters but also journal about what it means to you. Celebrate your son’s bar mitzvah amid these challenges and share your mixed emotions with your rabbi.
In this way, we can navigate our distractions and find meaning, faith and focus, even in the hardest times.
Rabbi Daniel Braune-Friedman is the senior rabbi and director of spiritual life at Charles E. Smith Life Communities. He is also a member of Kehillat Pardes in Aspen Hill.
