It's not just about being polite! It’s about life itself.
Deuteronomy 32:1 begins, “Listen, heavens, and I will speak, and the earth will hear the sayings of my mouth.” A simple verse, right? But the Rabbis saw so much more within it. They asked practical questions: what if someone has a terrible earache? Can you treat it on Shabbat, the Sabbath? The answer, according to the Sages, is yes, absolutely, if it's potentially life-threatening. Saving a life always overrides Shabbat. That’s pikuach nefesh, the saving of a life, a core principle.
But then, the Rabbis took a fascinating turn. They weren’t just interested in medical emergencies. They wanted to know: How can we avoid earaches – or any suffering – in the first place?
Their answer? Listen to Torah! "If you seek not to ache in your ears, or in any of your limbs, incline your ear to Torah and you will inherit life." As Isaiah 55:3 says, "Incline your ear and go to Me; listen, and your soul will live.” It’s a beautiful idea, isn’t it? That by truly hearing the wisdom of Torah, we can nourish our very being.
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa goes even further. He claims that anyone who turns away from listening to Torah, their prayers are rejected. Strong words! He bases this on Proverbs 28:9: “One who turns his ear away from hearing Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.” It suggests a deep connection between listening and being heard by the Divine.
Rabbi Levi offers a striking analogy. He compares the ear to the body as a perforated vessel is to garments. Imagine many garments placed over a perforated vessel, and incense is placed beneath them. All the garments are fumigated and absorb the fragrance. Similarly, he says, “there are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in this person; by means of the ear, all of them live, as it is stated: ‘Listen, and your soul will live.’” The ear, by hearing Torah, brings life to the whole body!
The text in Devarim Rabbah then brings it all together with a powerful image: God speaking directly about the impact of listening to Torah. "If you inclined your ear to Torah, when you come to begin stating matters of Torah, everyone becomes silent before you, and listens to your words, just as you inclined your ear to listen to matters of Torah.” In other words, by being a good listener, you earn the respect and attention of others.
The ultimate example? Moses himself. Because Moses inclined his ear to Torah, when he spoke, the entire cosmos – the upper and lower worlds – became silent and listened. This is derived from the opening verse, "Listen, heavens, and I will speak, [and the earth will hear the sayings of my mouth]." Moses' ability to command such attention came directly from his own deep listening.
So, what’s the takeaway? It’s not just about hearing the words. It’s about truly listening – with intention, with an open heart, and with a willingness to learn. When we do that, we not only gain wisdom but also, according to this ancient text, we bring life to ourselves and earn the respect of the world around us. Maybe the next time you hear a Torah reading, or any teaching that resonates, you'll remember the power of that simple act of listening. Maybe, just maybe, it will change your life.