The Greatest Expression of Faith in a God We Cannot See, But Only Hear

I began by pointing out that the Torah was a text intended to be read aloud and listened to. It is the single greatest expression of faith in a God we cannot see, but only hear. Judaism is supremely a religion of the ear, unlike all other ancient civilizations, which were cultures of the eye. This is more than a metaphysical fact. It is a moral one as well. In Judaism the highest spiritual gift is the ability to listen — not only to the voice of God, but also to the cry of other people, the sigh of the por, the weak, the lonely, the neglects and, yes, sometimes the un- or less-loved. That is one of the meanings of the great command Shema Yisrael, "Listen, O Israel." ...

Jonathan Sacks, Covenant & Conversation: Genesis