There are two larger-print letters in the first sentence (Ayin ע and Daleth ד) which, when combined, spell 'עד'. As the Ten Commandments were removed from daily prayer in the Mishnaic period (70-200 CE), the Shema is seen as an opportunity to commemorate the Ten Commandments. The three portions relate to central issues of Jewish belief.Īdditionally, the Talmud points out that subtle references to the Ten Commandments can be found in the three portions. The recitation of the Shema in the liturgy, however, consists of three portions: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37–41. Originally, the Shema consisted of only one verse: Deuteronomy 6:4 (see Talmud Sukkah 42a and Berachot 13b). These 5 relate to the metaphor of the 4 Letter Name of HaShem called the Tetragrammaton. Reading the above paragraph one will think that the Shema consists of three parts. These sections of the Torah are read in the weekly Torah portions Va'etchanan, Eikev, and Shlach, respectively. The term 'Shema' is used by extension to refer to the whole part of the daily prayers that commence with Shema Yisrael and comprise Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37–41.

Today the Shema is referred to as the 'watchword of our faith.' It is extremely important to Jews both within and outside of the prayer service. It is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words, and for parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night.Īctually, the most important part of the Prayer Service is called the Amidah or Standing Prayer. Observant Jews consider the Shema to be the most important part of the prayer service in Judaism, and its twice-daily recitation as a mitzvah (religious commandment).

The first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: 'Hear, O Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD is one,' found in Deuteronomy 6:4. Shema Yisrael (or Sh'ma Yisrael) (Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל‎ 'Hear, Israel') are the first two words of a section of the Torah, and are also the title (sometimes shortened to simply 'Shema') of a prayer that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. Much of the information below comes from Wikipedia.

V ahavta transliteration