The words שמע ישראל ה 'אלוקינו ה' אחד from this week’s Parsha of Parashat Va’etchanan comprise the pillar upon which Jewish faith stands; our absolute belief in the One True G-d. Now, when we recite the Shema in our prayer services, when we are in a Minyan, the Chazan concludes the three paragraphs of the Shema through reciting out loud: ה' אלקיכם אמת, The Lord G-d is True. These are the last two words of the third paragraph and the first word of the paragraph that follows.
Herein we have an echo of those words of ירמיהו הנביא in Chapter 10 Verse 10: ה' אלקים אמת, The Lord G-d is True. In the absence of a Minyan, before reciting the Shema some say the words אל מלך נאמן, G-d is a faithful King, and the first letters of these three words make up the word Amen, through which we affirm everything that follows in the Shema.
So why the additional three words? Here we have a rare example where numerology determines what the Halacha should be.
You see, altogether in the three paragraphs of the Shema, we have 245 words, but we want the total tally to be 248. That is because there are 248 positive precepts in the Torah and 248 limbs in the human body.
248 therefore represents action and so it is that Avraham, the founder of our faith, became absolutely dedicated to a life of fulfilling deeds – Avraham adds up to in Gematria 248. במדבר, in the wilderness, where we as a nation committed ourselves to embracing a life of Torah practice, that too has a Gematria of 248.
Emerging from this is a very important lesson for us. Shema Yisrael, to believe in G-d is so central and so crucial within our tradition. Yes, it is important to think, to intend and to have great dreams, but ultimately there is one thing that counts more than any other, and that is action. It is not what we think that counts, but what we achieve in life that really matters.
So let’s join together and cry out שמע ישראל ה 'אלוקינו ה' אחד and let’s ask from Hashem to get rid of all the trials and tribulations we are going through at this time and let’s pray with all our hearts for the return of our hostages, for all those who are sick and injured, for peace and calm as well as praying for our soldiers and emergency service personnel who risk their lives to defend and help us, as well as those who need healing, shidduchim, children or parnassah and may we be blessed to have just continuous joy and to only go from one simcha through to the next, the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, happy, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual,loving, sweet Shabbat and Tu B’Av Sameach.
NUMBER OF MITZVOT: 12
MITZVOT ASEH: 8
MITZVOT LO TAASEH: 4
NUMBER OF PESUKIM: 118
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1878
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 7343
HAFTORA:
Yeshayahu 40:1 - 26 (this is the first of seven Haftorot, [the Seven Haftorot of Consolation] that precede Rosh Hashanah).
The Shabbat after Tisha B'Av, is called Shabbat Nachamu - The Shabbat of consolation or comfort. The Shabbat is called Shabbat Nachamu, for the Haftorah which begins with the words: "Nachamu, Nachamu Ami - Be comforted, be comforted, my people...". In this chapter, the Navi describes the Ultimate Redemption (Moshiach) which we have yet to experience. May it be speedily in our days.
Today July 24, IS TU B'AV.
This week we study Chapter 3 of Pirkei Avot
