Exodus 29:38

וְזֶ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ כְּבָשִׂ֧ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֛ה שְׁנַ֥יִם לַיּ֖וֹם תָּמִֽיד׃

Now this is what you shall offer upon the altar: two lambs within their first year every day, continually. 

What is the most important verse in the Torah? A midrash records a debate amongst the Rabbis. Ben Zoma said, the shema: “Listen O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One”. Ben Nanus said: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. Ben Pazi said: I have found a verse that sums up the whole Torah: “You shall sacrifice a lamb in the morning and another at dusk”. Their teacher stood up and stated ‘The law is according to Ben Pazi. What about this verse did the Rabbis find more important than the shema? More important than “love your neighbor as yourself”?!

While the Shema and the commandment to love your neighbor are valuable, they lack the force of action. The twice daily sacrifice means someone needed to get up early in the morning, prepare the animal, sacrifice it, and clear the ashes so another can be prepared for the evening – every day, morning and afternoon, for all time. Even today without a Temple the daily Amidah prayers take the place of the sacrifices, and three times daily we’re called not to hold a particular belief, but to do something active to express our relationship with the divine.

This highlights a fundamental principle in Judaism: that action is at the core of spiritual life. The Shema teaches belief in God’s oneness, and “love your neighbor as yourself” calls for an attitude of compassion, but neither requires a daily commitment to action. The twice daily offering, on the other hand, teaches that spirituality isn’t just about ideals but about the small, consistent acts that define our character and express our values. Faith is important, and loving one’s neighbor is crucial. But it is daily, persistent action that shapes a life of holiness.