Shema, GOD, through the Torah, speaks to us. The word
Shema itself means “listen", and the recital of the
Shema is a supreme act of faith-as-listening: to the voice that brought the universe into being, created us in love and guides us through our lives.
The first paragraph represents kabba-lat ol malchut shamayim, “acceptance of the yoke of the kingship of heaven”. We pledge allegiance to the One GOD, sovereign of the universe, to whose authority all earthly powers are answerable. We do so not in fear but in love and with the totality of our being: all our heart, our soul, our might. That love suffuses all we do, from our relationship with our children to the homes we make.
The second paragraph represents kab-balat ol mitzvot, “acceptance of the commandments”. Whereas the first paragraph speaks to us as individuals, the second speaks to us as a people, defined by our covenant with GOD and its 613 commandments. “Our nation is only a nation in virtue of its Torah”, said Rabbi Saadia Gaon, and our collective fate depends on our collective faith. The third paragraph speaks of tzitzit, a perennial reminder of GOD’S commandments. It then leads into the theme of the exodus from Egypt, which we are commanded to remember “all the days of our lives”.
THE SHEMA
When prayers are not said with a minyan, say:
GOD, faithful King!
Cover the eyes with the right hand while saying the following verse:
DEUTERONOMY 6:4–9
Listen, Israel: the LORD is our GOD, the LORD is One.
Quietly:
Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.
Touch the hand-tefillin at ° and the head-tefillin at °°.
Love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. These words which I command you today shall be on your heart. Teach them repeatedly to your children, speaking of them when you sit at home and when you travel on the way, when you lie down and when you rise. “Bind them as a sign on your hand, and.” They shall be an emblem between your eyes. Write them on the doorposts of your house and gates.
Touch the hand-tefillin at ° and the head-tefillin at °°.
DEUTERONOMY 11:13–21
If you indeed heed My commandments with which I charge you today, to love the LORD your GOD and worship Him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will give rain in your land in its season, the early and late rain; and you shall gather in your grain, wine and oil. I will give grass in your field for your cattle, and you shall eat and be satisfied. Be careful lest your heart be tempted and you go astray and worship other gods, bowing down to them. Then the Lord’s anger will flare against you and He will close the heavens so that there will be no rain. The land will not yield its crops, and you will perish swiftly from the good land that the LORD is giving you. Therefore set these, My words, on your heart and soul. °Bind them as a sign on your hand, °°and they shall be an emblem between your eyes. Teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit at home and when you travel on the way, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and gates, so that you and your children may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, for as long as the heavens are above the earth.
Transfer the tzitziot to the right hand, kissing them at °.
NUMBERS 15:37–41
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make °tassels on the corners of their garments for all generations. They shall attach to the °tassel at each corner a thread of blue. This shall be your °tassel, and you shall see it and remember all of the Lord’s commandments and keep them, not straying after your heart and after your eyes, following your own sinful desires. Thus you will be reminded to keep all My commandments, and be holy to your GOD. I am the LORD your GOD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your GOD. I am the LORD your GOD. °True –
The Leader repeats:
The LORD your GOD is true –
At °, kiss the tzitziot and release them.
And firm, established and enduring, right, faithful, beloved, cherished, delightful, pleasant, awesome, mighty, perfect, accepted, good and beautiful is this faith for us for ever. True is the eternal GOD, our King, Rock of Jacob, Shield of our salvation. He exists and His name exists through all generations. His throne is established, His kingship and faithfulness endure for ever. His words live and persist, faithful and desirable °for ever and all time. So they were for our ancestors, so they are for us, and so they will be for our children and all our generations and for all future generations of the seed of Israel, Your servants.
For the early and the later generations this faith has proved good and enduring for ever – true and faithful, an irrevocable law. True – You are the LORD: our GOD and GOD of our ancestors, our King and King of our ancestors, our Redeemer and Redeemer of our ancestors, our Maker, Rock of our salvation, our Deliverer and Rescuer: this has ever been Your name. There is no GOD but You.
You have always been the help of our ancestors, Shield and Saviour of their children after them in every generation. Your dwelling is in the heights of the universe, and Your judgements and righteousness reach to the ends of the earth. Happy is the one who obeys Your commandments and takes to heart Your teaching and Your word. True – You are the Master of Your people and a mighty King who pleads their cause. True – You are the first and You are the last. Beside You, we have no king, redeemer or saviour. From Egypt You redeemed us, LORD our GOD, and from the slave-house You delivered us. All their firstborn You killed, but Your firstborn You redeemed. You split the Sea of Reeds and drowned the arrogant. You brought Your beloved ones across. The water covered their foes; not one of them was left. For this, the beloved ones praised and exalted GOD, the cherished ones sang psalms, songs and praises, blessings and thanksgivings to the King, the living and enduring GOD. High and exalted, great and awesome, He humbles the haughty and raises the lowly, freeing captives and redeeming those in need, helping the poor and answering His people when they cry out to Him.
Stand and take three steps back.
Praises to GOD Most High, the Blessed One who is blessed. Moses and the children of Israel recited to You a song with great joy, and they all exclaimed:
“Who is like You, LORD, among the mighty? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders?”
