Hear O Israel

This weeks readings brought to mind something that Ray taught us while in Israel. At every site visited we would publicly recite the Shema. Not the full Shema we have been memorizing, but half of the first passage. Ray would often teach us things about the Shema as we went. One of the things Ray taught about relates to this weeks passage from Hebrews and the Genesis portion about Jacob. Recall that the Lord gives Jacob a new name, Israel. This name becomes the name of the entire nation that follows Jacob. Sometimes when the Jewish people recite the Shema, they say the Shema to Jacob, because it can be interpreted to be written to Jacob, whose name is Israel. As if to say, Listen up Jacob! We're still following the Lord. We're continuing to walk in your footsteps! Your sacrifice was worth it! This makes sense with the passage from Hebrews. "God had planned something better for us, so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (11:40) SO this week when we recite the Shema, let's say it to Jacob. (at least the first part)