... The Shema ...

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At the very heart of Judaism lies the Shema, the fervent declaration of the Unity or Oneness of G-d. This is the Jewish prayer most often recited, an affirmation most insistently made by the pious from childhood until death. Over the course of the centuries, from the days of the Sages on, as soon as a child began to speak, he was taught to repeat daily, with the utmost awe and reverence, the ringing Hebrew words of the Shema until he knew them by heart. He continued to repeat them twice a day in his prayers throughout all the days of is life. And the Shema was his last conscious utterance as he lay dying. Later, this declaration was elaborated and became a fundamental part of the daily prayer service, both morning and night. However, in time of danger or at the point of death, the recitation of the first verse, or even only its first two Hebrew words, Shema Yisroel, have been considered sufficient by the religious teachers of Israel, since in Jewish belief, the intention is what matters most.

Rabbi Ephraim Epstein of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, speaking to his congregation, adds the following:

The Torah prescribes for us a daily double dosage of Krias Shema - the recitation of the prayer - "Shema Yisrael"- "Hear Oh Israel". The tefilla Shema Yisrael can be likened to a "Declaration of Dependence" to the Creator of the universe. The Talmud describes it as the vehicle with which to accept the Yoke of Heaven. Rabbi Avigdor Miller, pointed out that the word Shema - to Hear, is the word that was used at the moment of the original acceptance of G-d and His Torah at Sinai when the Jewish people cried out "Naaseh Venishmah - We will do and we will hear". As the Jewish forefathers declared 3300 years ago, so do the Jews declare today "Shema Yisrael...".

Our sages teach us that the original recitation of the phrase "Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokaynu Hashem Echad" dates back to our Father Jacob. We are taught that at the close of Yaakov's life he called all of his children to his bed side to say farewell and reveal the destiny of the Jewish people. When he was unsuccessful sharing his visions and divine insights regarding the future of the Jewish people he grew despondent and concerned that perhaps his children (the original children of Israel) were not true to the G-d of Israel. At that anxiety filled moment Jacob's children recited in unison "Shema Yisrael... Echad". This provided comfort and fulfillment to him at the closing moments of life on this earth.

"Shema Yisrael" became the prayer of choice for dieing martyrs who died in the name of the G-d. The Talmud relates to us the painful story of Rabbi Akiva's death at the hands of the Romans. As his soul was departing from his body he too recited the Shema Yisrael. In addition to other reasons this is why Jews say Shema every night before going to sleep - sleep is considered in Jewish thought tantamount to death which is one of the reasons why we wash our hands (Neygal Vasser) when we rise in the morning.

The words of the Shema are so important that they are inserted into our Tefillin and our Mezuzot. We attach the Shema to our bodies and our homes to demonstrate our love and commitment to Hashem and His Torah. The opening word - Shema is written in the Torah with a large Ayin and the last word of the phrase Echad shows a large Dalet. The two letters together spell Ayd which means testimony. Saying the Shema every day is a testimony of ones conviction to walk in the ways of the Torah and do Mitzvot.

Below is one of the most important prayers in the Jewish tradition. The first rendition is the pronunciation of the Ashkenazi Jews (more my tradition); the second rendition is that of the Sephardic Jews.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Sh'ma Yisroel Adonoy Eloheynu Adonoy Echod
Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad.
Hear, Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One.

In an undertone:
Baruchj Shem k'vod makchuso l'olom vo-ed
Barukh Shem k'vod malkhuto l'olam va-ed
Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever

V-ohavto es Adonoy Eloecho b-chol l'vovcho u-v-chol naf'sh'cho u-v-chol m'odecho.
V-ahavta et Adonai Elohecha b-chol l'vavcha u-v-chol naf'sh'cha u-v-chol m'odecha.
And you shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

V-hoyu ha-d'vorim ho-ayleh asher onochi m'tzav'cho ha-yom al-l'vovecho
V-hayu ha-d'varim ha-ayleh asher anochi m'tzav'cha ha-yom al l'vavecha.
And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart.

V-shinantom l-vonecho
V-shinantam l-vanecha
And you shall teach them diligently to your children.

V-dibarto bom b-shivt'cho b-vaysecho, u-v-lecht'cho va-derech, u-v-shochb'cho u-v-kumecho.
V-dibarta bam b-shivt'cha b-vaytecha, u-v-lecht'cha ba-derech, u-v-shachb'cha u-v-kumecha.
And you shall speak of them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.

U-k'shartom l'os al yodecho, v-hoyu l-totofos bayn anyecho.
U-k'shartam l'ot al yadecha, v-hayu l-totafot bayn aynecha.
And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.

U-chsavtom al m'zuzos baysecho u-vi-shorecho.
U-chtavtam al m'zuzot baytecha u-vi-sharecha.
And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 11:13-21

V-hoyo im sh'moa tishm'u el mitzvosai asher onochi m'tzaveh eschem ha-yom...
V-haya im shamoa tishm'u el mitzvotai asher anochi m'tzaveh etchem ha-yom...
And it shall come to pass if you surely listen to the commandments that I command you today...

L-ahavoh es Adonoy Elohaychem, u-l-ovdo b-chol l'vavchem u-v-chol nafsh'chem.
L-ahavah et Adonai Elohaychem, u-l-avdo b-chol l'vavchem u-v-chol nafsh'chem.
To love the L-rd your G-d, and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul,

V-nosati m-tar artz'chem b-ito, yoreh u-malkosh...
V-natati m'tar artz'chem b-ito, yoreh u-malkosh...
That I will give rain to your land, the early and the late rains...
V-osafto d'gonecho, v-sirosh'cho v-yitzhorecho.
V-asafta d'ganecha, v-tirosh'cha v-yitzharecha.
That you may gather in your grain, your wine and your oil.

V-nosati aysev b-sod'cho li-v'hem'techo; v-ochalto v-sovoto.
V-natati aysev b-sad'cha li-b'hem'techa; v-achalta v-savata.
And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle and you will eat and you will be satisfied.

Hishomru lochem, pen yifteh l'vavchem...
Hishamru lachem, pen yifteh l'vavchem...
Beware, lest your heart be deceived...

V-sartem va-avad'tem elohim achayrim, v-hishtachavisem lohem.
V-sartem va-avad'tem elohim achayrim, v-hishtachavitem lahem.
And you turn and serve other G-ds, and worship them.

V-choroh af Adonoy bochem, v-otzar es ha-shomayim v-lo yihyeh motor v-ho-adomo lo sitayn es y'vuloh; va-avad'tem m'hayroh mayal ho-oretz ha-tovoh asher Adonoy nosayn lochem.
V-charah af Adonai bachem, v-atzar et ha-shamayim v-lo yihyeh matar, v-ha-adama lo titayn et y'vulah; va-avad'tem m'hayrah mayal ha-aretz ha-tovah asher Adonai notayn lachem.
And anger of the L-rd will blaze against you, and he will close the heavens and there will not be rain, and the earth will not give you its fullness, and you will perish quickly from the good land that the L-rd gives you.

V-sam'tem es d'vorai ayleh al l'vavchem v-al naf'sh'cham, u-k'shartem osom l-os al yed'chem, v-hoyu l'totofos bayn aynaychem.
V-sam'tem et d'varai ayleh al l'vavchem v-al naf'sh'chem; u-kshartem otam l-ot al yedchem, v-hayu ltotafot bayn aynaychem.
So you shall put these, my words, on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them for signs on your hands, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.

V-limad'tem osom es b'naycham l-daber bom b-shivt'cho b-vaysecho, u-v-lecht'cho vaderech, u-v-shochb'cho u-v-kumecho.
V-limadtem otam et b'naychem l-daber bam b-shivt'cha b-vaytecha, u-v-lecht'cha baderech, u-v-shachb'cha u-v-kumecha.
And you shall teach them to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk on the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.

U-ch'savtom al m'zuzos baysecho u-vi-shorecho.
U-ch'tavtam al m'zuzot baytecha u-vi-sharecha.
And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

L'ma'an yirbu y'maychem vi-y'may b'naychem al ho-adomoh asher nishba Adonai la-avosaychem l'says lohem k'may ha-shomayim al ho-oretz.
L'ma'an yirbu y'maychem vi-y'may v'naychem al ha-adamah asher nishba Adonai la-avotaychem latayt lahem ki-y'may ha-shamayim al ha-aretz.
In order to prolong your days and the days of your children on the land that the L-rd promised your fathers that he would give them, as long as the days that the heavens are over the earth.

Numbers 15:37-41

Vayomer Adonoy el Mosheh laymor.
Vayomer Adonai el Mosheh laymor.
And the L-rd spoke to Moses, saying...

Daber el b'nay Yisroel v-omarto alayhem, v-osu lohem tzitzis al can'fay bi-g'dayhem l-dorosom, v-nos'nu al tzitzis ha-conof p'sil t'chayles.
Daber el b'nay Yisrael v-amarta alayhem, v-asu lahem tzitzit al can'fay vi-g'dayhem l-dorotam, v-natnu al tzitzit ha-canaf p'til t'chaylet.
Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, they should make themselves tzitzit (fringes) on the corners of their clothing throughout their generations, and give the tzitzit of each corner a thread of blue.

V-hoyoh lochem l-tzitzis, u-r'iysem oso u-z'chartem es kol mitzvos Adonoy, va-asiysem osom v-lo sosuru acharay l-vavchem v-acharay aynaychem, asher atem zonim acharaychem.
V-hayah lachem l-tzitzit, u-r'iytem oto u-z'chartem et kol mitzvot Adonai, va-asiytem otam v-lo taturu acharay l-vavchem v-acharay aynaychem, asher atem zonim acharaychem.
And they shall be tzitzit for you, and when you look at them you will remember all of the L-rd's commandments and do them and not follow after your heart and after your eyes, which lead you astray.

L'ma-an tiz'k'ru v-asisem es kol mitzvosoy, vi-h'yiysem k'doshim laylohaychem.
L'ma-an tiz'k'ru v-asitem et kol mitzvotai, vi-h'yiytem k'doshim laylohaychem.
In order to remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your G-d.

Ani Adonoy Elohaychem, asher hotzaysiy eschem mayeretz Mitzrayim, li-h'yos lachem laylohim.
Ani Adonai Elohaychem, asher hotzaytiy etchem mayeretz Mitzrayim, li-h'yot lahem laylohim.
I am the L-rd, your G-d, who lead you from the land of Egypt to be a G-d to you.

Ani Adonly Elohaychem, Adonoy Elohaychem emes.
Ani Adonai Elohaychem, Adonai Elohaycham emet.
I am the L-rd, your G-d, the true one.