Hearing and Listening

Shoshana Strom

I took this photograph following our discussion about the shofar in the
Talmud. What struck me the most about one of the texts we studied
(Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 3:7) was the idea that you have to have the
intention to hear the sound of the shofar in order to fulfill the mitzvah. We
discussed how listening to something can be different than just hearing it,
similar to the comparisons between active and passive listening.

Approaching this house on a daily walk, I heard something and it took me a
moment to realize that what I heard was the windchimes on the porch. After
realizing what it was, I was able to appreciate the sound – but perhaps not
as much as if I had been aware of it or knowing to listen for it.

Shoshana Strom

Shoshana Strom

BCI 2015
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA