This week we read parashat Eikev in the book of Deuteronomy which begins by telling us, "if only you would listen to these laws." We’re familiar with the word listen that is used here: Shema. It is one of the central words of one of our most central prayers which was in last week's parasha: Shema Yisrael and in the second paragraph of the Shema found in this week's Torah portion.
