The Basics of the Sh'ma

The Sh'ma, generally recognized as the central tenet of Judaism, comes into the liturgy as quotations from Torah.  The title is the first word of the first statement which is D'varim 6:4 (Deuternomy 6:4),

Listen Israel! YHWH* is our God! YHWH is unique!

Various liturgical traditions (from strictly halakhic to Reform) vary what is quoted from the Torah.  Gates of Prayer includes D'varim 6:4-9 and B'midbar 15:40-41 (Numbers 15:40-41).  Other traditions include D'varim 6:4-9 and 11:13-21, and B'midbar 15:37-41.  In addition, long ago a blessing was inserted into the liturgy,

Blessed is the Name's glorious majesty evermore

This blessing remains in the liturgy in all traditions.  Halakhic tradition maintained a sense that the blessing is separate by reciting it more quietly.  Some Reform congregations maintain a constant level of enthusiasm, while some, including Beth Am, have adopted the quiet recitation of the blessing.

Commentary:

By Harve Citrin

The Sh'ma is not a prayer, supplication, exaltation, blessing, or incantation.  D'varim 6:4 is Moses's strong dynamic command - Listen Israel! - combined with two equally powerful statements of reality - YHWH is our God! YHWH is unique!

The verses following D'varim 6:4 (6:5-9, the first verses in the liturgy titled V'ahavta) are also strong dynamic commands that state the necessary (and I believe sufficient) ways to acknowledge and be faithful to YHWH.  No equivocation, no sense of pleading is involved.  These are directives originally from Moses, and now declarations to ourselves and each other.  In my mind, the directives are absolute, appropriate in every generation and in every context, and summarize not only our covenant with God, but our relationship to each other and to creation.  Israel does not have the choice of not listening;  Israel does not have the choice of denying YHWH. 

" In my mind, the directives are absolute, appropriate in every generation and in every context, and summarize not only our covenant with God, but our relationship to each other and to creation."

The strength I find in the Sh'ma is compromised in the liturgy by injected discontinuities such as alternative standing and sitting, the inserted blessing, attempts at being poetic (e.g. the "O" often inserted before Israel), and insertion of intended emphasis (the tack-on of B'midbar verses).  Nevertheless, the first statement remains succinct, enigmatic and powerful; an intense beam illuminating the world.  Some may wish to ignore the message because they find uncertainty in the ambiguity in meaning or in translation (e.g. is echad "unique" or "one" or "alone" or "special" or "unity" or "only" or "tops" or ???).  These ambiguities have never bothered me.  Uncertainty is only at the superficial crust of intellectual analysis, and may be a barrier that some hang onto because of fear of the realm of unknowingness.  For most of my 67 years, D'varim 6:4 was essentially the only Hebrew phrase I could recite, and was without any certain, precise meaning in my native language.  Nevertheless, the declaration was always a brilliant portal, bringing me close to a feeling that something of YHWH can be experienced.  On a more scrutable level, it has been a continual reminder that all - fauna, flora, air, earth and water - deserve dignity.  Also, throughout my introductions to many of the world's many religions, the Sh'ma has been a mantra, inspiring my certainty that other religions do not present an improvement on Judaism.  These beliefs lead me to recite the Sh'ma with my head erect, eyes open, all senses alert; taking in and appreciating the wonders of creation with awe.

*Editor's Note:  YHWH is a way of indicating God's name.  Since the Hebrew letters that typically indicate God's name are unpronounceable, we often use the words Adonai, Lord, Creator, etc;  YHWH is simply another way to indicate God's name that is less indicative of any particular characteristic of God.

Prayer Text:

Text from Congregation Beth Am's Shabbat Morning Siddur (prayerbook)

Sh'ma Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai eh-chad!

 

Ba-ruch sheim k'vod mal-chu-to l'o-lam va-ed!

Listen well now, family of Israel!
Hear that Adonai is our one and only God.
Hear that Adonai is One.
Blessed is God's glorious name.
Blessed is God's glorious dominion forever.

V'ahavta et Adonai eh-lo-heh-cha b'chol l'vav-cha u-v'chol naf-sh'cha u-v'chol m'o-deh-cha. V'ha-yu ha-d'va-rim ha-ei-leh a-sher a-no-chi m'tza-v'cha ha-yom al l'va-veh-cha. V'shi-nan-tam l'va-neh-cha v'di-bar-ta bam b'shiv-t'cha b'vei-teh-cha u-v'lech-t'cha va-deh-rech u-v'shoch-b'cha u-v'ku-meh-cha. U-k'shar-tam l'ot al ya-deh-cha v'ha-yu l'to-ta-fot bein ei-neh-cha; u-ch'tav-tam al m'zu-zot bei-teh-cha u-vi-sh'a-reh-cha

Love Adonai your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I command you on this day, shall be on your heart. Teach them faithfully to your children; speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise. Bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. Write them on the doorposts of your house, and upon your gates.... That you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God.

MEDITATION

In the ancient Near East, free people wore fringes, or tzitzit, on the hem of their everyday clothes. Since only free people wore tzitzit, they were a form of identification. Business transactions were sealed by kissing the tzitzit. The mitzvah of tzitzit is based on that ancient sign of freedom. The fringes remind us that we voluntarily follow the way of God, who freed us from Egyptian slavery. It is, literally, a string tied around the finger. Today, many Jews who wear a tallit hold the tzitzit in their left hand as they recite the Shema, the affirmation of God's sovereignty in our lives.  They kiss the fringes at each mention of the word tzitzit to show that we take these words seriously, like a legal contract.

L'ma-an tiz-ke-ru va-a-si-tem et kol mitz-vo-tai vi-he-yi-tem ke-do-shim lei-lo-hei-chem. A-ni Adonai Eh-lo-hei-chem, a-sher ho-tzei-ti et-chem mei-eh-retz mitz-ra-yim li-he-yot la-chem lei-lo-him. A-ni Adonai Eh-lo-hei-chem.

God said to Moses:
Let Israel throughout their generations make tzitzit,
fringes, with a thread of blue,
On the corners of their garments,
To look at and remember all the mitzvot of God and do them
Lest you follow only what your eyes see
And your hearts desire.
Forgetting that everything you see and whatever you desire
Are signs of My presence in the world.
But looking at the knotted fringes,
You will remember as a knot around the finger,
To do all My mitzvot, My sacred obligations.
Thus you will share the holiness of God
Who saw you as slaves in Mitzrayim
And desired you to become a people of God.
I am the Eternal, your God.
- [Based on Numbers 15:37-41]