קריאת שמע Kriyat Shema
The Shema
By Shira Schoenberg
The Shema is an affirmation of Judaism and a declaration of faith in one God. The obligation to recite the Shema is separate from the obligation to pray and a Jew is obligated to say Shema in the morning and at night (Deut. 6:7). For the rest of a really beautiful commentary by Ms. Schoenberg please head over to the Virtual Jewish Library; here.
Also, you might want to check out the following website for the Hebrew script with translation, transliteration and commentary; http://www.jewfaq.org/shemaref.htmThe first paragraph of the Shema (V'havtah), expresses the obligations that flow from the recognition Of G-d's sovereignty. The second pargraph (V'hayah), urges the acceptance of the discipline of the mitzvot, while the third (V'yomer), ordains an action that symbolizes the abovve principles: Gazing at the Tzit Tzit (fringes).
It is customery, during the recitation of the third paragraph of the Shema (V'yomer), to kiss the Tzit Tzit at each mention of the word "Tzit Tzit," as a formal expression of our love.
The Shema was part of the service in the Temple in ancient Jerusalem. It was recited by the Kohanim in the same order as it is today. " Barukh shem K'vod malkhuto" was the people's response. It was not part of the biblical text of the Shema. - Sim Shalom Siddur
1 Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which HaShem your G-d commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it--
2 that thou mightest fear HaShem thy G-d, to keep all His statutes and His commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as HaShem, the G-d of thy fathers, hath promised unto thee--a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE HaShem OUR GOD, THE HaShem IS ONE.
5 And thou shalt love HaShem thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;
7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
שְׁמַע יִשרָאֵל ה' אֱלהֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד:
בלחש - בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוד מַלְכוּתו לְעולָם וָעֶד: - softly or silently -Blessed be His glorious Name forever and ever
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה' אֱלהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאדֶךָ:
וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּום עַל לְבָבֶךָ:
וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ:
וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאות עַל יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטטָפת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ:
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזֻזות בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ:
http://www.onlinesiddur.com/shac/
Sh'ma Yis-ra-eil, A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu, A-do-nai E-chad.
Ba-ruch sheim k'vod mal-chu-to l'o-lam va-ed. - softly or silently - Blessed be His glorious Name forever and ever
[Many congregations recite the next paragraph aloud together.]
V'a-hav-ta eit A-do-nai E-lo-he-cha,
B'chawl^l'va-v'cha,
u-v'chawl^naf-sh'cha,
u-v'chawl^m'o-de-cha.
V'ha-yu ha-d'va-rim ha-ei-leh,
A-sher a-no-chi m'tsa-v'cha ha-yom, al^l'va-ve-cha.
V'shi-nan-tam l'-va-ne-cha, v'di-bar-ta bam
b'shiv-t'cha b'vei-te-cha,
uv-lech-t'cha va-de-rech,
u-v'shawch-b'cha uv-ku-me-cha.
Uk-shar-tam l'ot al^ya-de-cha,
v'ha-yu l'to-ta-fot bein ei-ne-cha.
Uch-tav-tam, al^m'zu-zot bei-te-cha, u-vish-a-re-cha.
http://siddur.org/transliterations/saturday-morning-sabbath-services/shabbat-shacharit-shema
13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you this day, to love HaShem your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,
14 that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
15 And I will give grass in thy fields for thy cattle, and thou shalt eat and be satisfied.
16 Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
17 and the anger of HaShem be kindled against you, and He shut up the heaven, so that there shall be no rain, and the ground shall not yield her fruit; and ye perish quickly from off the good land which HaShem giveth you.
18 Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul; and ye shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
19 And ye shall teach them your children, talking of them, when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
20 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates;
21 that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, upon the land which HaShem swore unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.
Deuteronomy 11:13-21
וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל מִצְותַי אֲשֶׁר אָנכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּום לְאַהֲבָה אֶת ה' אֱלהֵיכֶם וּלְעָבְדו בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶם וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁכֶם:
וְנָתַתִּי מְטַר אַרְצְכֶם בְּעִתּו יורֶה וּמַלְקושׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ דְגָנֶךָ וְתִירשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ:
וְנָתַתִּי עֵשב בְּשדְךָ לִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשבָעְתָּ:
הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם פֶּן יִפְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם וְסַרְתֶּם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֱלהִים אֲחֵרִים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶם לָהֶם:
וְחָרָה אַף ה' בָּכֶם וְעָצַר אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלא יִהְיֶה מָטָר וְהָאֲדָמָה לא תִתֵּן אֶת יְבוּלָהּ וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ הַטּבָה אֲשֶׁר ה' נתֵן לָכֶם:
וְשמְתֶּם אֶת דְּבָרַי אֵלֶּה עַל לְבַבְכֶם וְעַל נַפְשְׁכֶם וּקְשַׁרְתֶּם אתָם לְאות עַל יֶדְכֶם וְהָיוּ לְטוטָפת בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם:
וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אתָם אֶת בְּנֵיכֶם לְדַבֵּר בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ בְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ:
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזוּזות בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ:
לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע ה' לַאֲבתֵיכֶם לָתֵת לָהֶם כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ: http://www.onlinesiddur.com/shac/
V'ha-ya, im^sha-mo-a tish-m'u el^mits-vo-tai
a-sher a-no-chi m'tsa-veh et-chem ha-yom
l'a-ha-va et^A-do-nai E-lo-hei-chem
ul-awv-do b'chawl^l'vav-chem, u-v'chawl^naf-sh'chem,
V'na-ta-ti m'tar^ar-ts'chem b'i-to, yo-reh u-mal-kosh,
v'a-saf-ta d'ga-ne-cha,
v'ti-ro-sh'cha v'yits-ha-re-cha.
V'na-ta-ti ei-sev b'sa-d'cha liv-hem-te-cha,
v'a-chal-ta v'sa-va-'ta.
Hi-sha-m'ru la-chem pen^yif-te l'vav-chem, v'sar-tem,
va-a-vad-tem E-lo-him a-chei-rim, v'hish-ta-cha-vi-tem la-hem.
V'cha-rah af^A-do-nai ba-chem, v'a-tsar et^ha-sha-ma-yim,
v'lo^yi-h'yeh ma-tar, v'ha-a-da-ma lo ti-tein et^y'vu-la,
va-a-vad-tem m'hei-ra mei-al ha-a-rets ha-to-va
a-sher A-do-nai no-tein la-chem.
V'sam-tem et^d'vara ei-leh, al^l'vav-chem v'al^naf-sh'chem,
uk-shar-tem o-tam l'ot al^yed-chem,
v'ha-yu l'to-ta-fot bein ei-nei-chem.
V'li-mad-tem o-tam et^b'nei-chem, l'da-beir bam
b'shiv-t'cha b'vei-te-cha, uv-lech-t'cha va-de-rech
u-v'shawch-b'cha uv-ku-me-cha.
Uch-tav-tam, al^m'zu-zot bei-te-cha, u-vish-a-re-cha.
L'ma-an yir-bu y'mei-chem, vi-mei v'nei-chem, al ha-a-da-ma
a-sher nish-ba A-do-nai la-a-vo-tei-chem, la-teit la-hem
ki-mei ha-sha-ma-yim al^ha-a-rets.
http://siddur.org/transliterations/saturday-morning-sabbath-services/shabbat-shacharit-shema
37 And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying:
38 'Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them throughout their generations fringes in the corners of their garments, and that they put with the fringe of each corner a thread of blue.
39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of HaShem, and do them; and that ye go not about after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go astray;
40 that ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your G-d.
41 I am HaShem your G-d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your G-d: I am HaShem your G-d.'
Numbers 15:37-41
Jewish bible - Jewish Publication Society - also to be found at VirtualJewishLibrary.orgוַיּאמֶר ה' אֶל משֶׁה לֵּאמר:
דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם וְעָשוּ לָהֶם צִיצִת עַל כַּנְפֵי בִגְדֵיהֶם לְדרתָם וְנָתְנוּ עַל צִיצִת הַכָּנָף פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת:
וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְצִיצִת וּרְאִיתֶם אתו וּזְכַרְתֶּם אֶת כָּל מִצְות ה' וַעֲשיתֶם אתָם וְלא תָתוּרוּ אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם זנִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם:
לְמַעַן תִּזְכְּרוּ וַעֲשיתֶם אֶת כָּל מִצְותָי וִהְיִיתֶם קְדשִׁים לֵאלהֵיכֶם:
אֲנִי ה' אֱלהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לִהְיות לָכֶם לֵאלהִים אֲנִי ה' אֱלהֵיכֶם. אֱמֶת: http://www.onlinesiddur.com/shac/
Va-yo-meir A-do-nai el^Mo-she lei-mor:
Da-beir el^b'nei Yis-ra-eil, v'a-mar-ta a-lei-hem
v'a-su la-hem tsi-tsit, al^kan-fei vig-dei-hem l'do-ro-tam,
v'na-t'nu al^tsi-tsit ha-ka-naf p'til t'chei-let.
V'ha-ya la-chem l'tsi-tsit, ur-i-tem o-to
uz-char-tem et^kawl^mits-vot A-do-nai, va-a-si-tem o-tam,
v'lo ta-tu-ru a-cha-rei l'vav-chem,
v'a-cha-rei ei-nei-chem
a-sher^a-tem zo-nim a-cha-rei-hem,
L'ma-an tiz-k'ru, va-a-si-tem et^kawl^mits-vo-tai
vi-h'yi-tem k'do-shim lei-lo-hei-chem.
A-ni A-do-nai E-lo-hei-chem,
a-sher ho-tsei-ti et-chem mei-e-rets Mits-ra-yim
li-h'yot la-chem lei-lo-him;
A-ni A-do-nai E-lo-hei-chem...
E-met...
http://siddur.org/transliterations/saturday-morning-sabbath-services/shabbat-shacharit-shema
There is so much commentary already written on the Shema, that it is with some reservation that I have approached this particular section of the canting blog. The problem is that no matter how hard one tries it is nearly impossible to do the Shema justice. It is and has been (and most likely will remain) the central statement of our faith. One might even say it is the monolithic singular statement of monotheism. It is all that and more, as wrapped up in it, and the succeeding paragraphs, is the covenant of love that G-d has made with His people Israel. As so amply stated in the Erev Shabbat service as a prelude to the Shema; the Ahavat Olam prayer states:
אַהֲבַת עולָם בֵּית יִשרָאֵל עַמְּךָ אָהָבְתָּ. תּורָה וּמִצְות חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים אותָנוּ לִמַּדְתָּ. עַל כֵּן ה' אֱלהֵינוּ בְּשָׁכְבֵנוּ וּבְקוּמֵנוּ נָשיחַ בְּחֻקֶּיךָ. וְנִשמַח בְּדִבְרֵי תורָתֶךָ וּבְמִצְותֶיךָ לְעולָם וָעֶד:
כִּי הֵם חַיֵּינוּ וְארֶךְ יָמֵינוּ וּבָהֶם נֶהְגֶּה יומָם וָלָיְלָה:
וְאַהֲבָתְךָ אַל תָּסִיר מִמֶּנּוּ לְעולָמִים.
כִּי הֵם חַיֵּינוּ וְארֶךְ יָמֵינוּ וּבָהֶם נֶהְגֶּה יומָם וָלָיְלָה:
וְאַהֲבָתְךָ אַל תָּסִיר מִמֶּנּוּ לְעולָמִים.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה'. אוהֵב עַמּו יִשרָאֵל
Ahavat olam beit yisraeil amcha ahavta,
Torah umitzvot chukim umishpatim otanu limad'ta.
Al kein Adonai Eloheinu b'shochbeinu
uv'kumeinu nasi-ach b-chukecha,
v' nis mach b'divrei torat'cha
uv'mitzvotecha le-olam va-ed.
Ki heim cha-yeinu v-orach yameinu uva-heim nehgeh yomam valaila.
V-ahavatcha al tasir mimenu le-olamim,
Baruch ata Adonai, oheiv amo yisraeil.
http://zemerl.com/cgi-bin/show.pl?title=Ahavat+Olam
It is therefore a Covenant of Ahavat, Torah, uMitzvot, Chukim uMishipatim; i.e., a covenant of Love, Instruction, Commands / deeds of loving kindness, Laws and Judgments. It is also to be written on our heart, and minds, spoken on the lips of our families generations, night and day; indeed it is to be written on the doorposts of our homes. It is said that we are to love HaShem our G-d with all our heart, soul and strength. The ideal of ideals, a challenge largely unmet by most of us and certainly to be strived for. The Shema puts us in mind that we are to have no other G-d before Him. In this prayer G-d tells us essentially, that He is our parent and we are His people. I.e., He provides for and instructs us and we are to be careful in obeying Him. The Eternal Shepherd of Israel, Hashem reminds us that it is He Who redeems and saves; with signs and wonders He brought us up out of the land of Mitzrayim- Egypt (the land of slavery) to be our G-d. The Shema also recalls for us another related passage of the Torah; 18 Thou shalt not take vengeance, Nor bear Any grudge Against the Children of thy people, But shalt love thy Neighbour as Thyself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18
The Shema illustrates what we are to be; 6 and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.'
Exodus 19:6
Torah umitzvot chukim umishpatim otanu limad'ta.
Al kein Adonai Eloheinu b'shochbeinu
uv'kumeinu nasi-ach b-chukecha,
v' nis mach b'divrei torat'cha
uv'mitzvotecha le-olam va-ed.
Ki heim cha-yeinu v-orach yameinu uva-heim nehgeh yomam valaila.
V-ahavatcha al tasir mimenu le-olamim,
Baruch ata Adonai, oheiv amo yisraeil.
http://zemerl.com/cgi-bin/show.pl?title=Ahavat+Olam
With everlasting love You have loved Your people Israel. You have taught us the Torah and its Mitzvot. You have instructed us in its laws and judgments.
Therefore, Adonai our G-d, when we lie down and when we rise up we shall speak of Your commandments and rejoice in Your Torah and Mitzvot.
For they are our life and the length of our days; on them we will meditate day and night. May you never take away Your love from us. Praised are You, Adonai, for loving Your people Israel. (more on Ahavat Olam when I get to the evening service)
It is therefore a Covenant of Ahavat, Torah, uMitzvot, Chukim uMishipatim; i.e., a covenant of Love, Instruction, Commands / deeds of loving kindness, Laws and Judgments. It is also to be written on our heart, and minds, spoken on the lips of our families generations, night and day; indeed it is to be written on the doorposts of our homes. It is said that we are to love HaShem our G-d with all our heart, soul and strength. The ideal of ideals, a challenge largely unmet by most of us and certainly to be strived for. The Shema puts us in mind that we are to have no other G-d before Him. In this prayer G-d tells us essentially, that He is our parent and we are His people. I.e., He provides for and instructs us and we are to be careful in obeying Him. The Eternal Shepherd of Israel, Hashem reminds us that it is He Who redeems and saves; with signs and wonders He brought us up out of the land of Mitzrayim- Egypt (the land of slavery) to be our G-d. The Shema also recalls for us another related passage of the Torah; 18 Thou shalt not take vengeance, Nor bear Any grudge Against the Children of thy people, But shalt love thy Neighbour as Thyself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18
The Shema illustrates what we are to be; 6 and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.'
Exodus 19:6
In the service up to this point we have acknowledged our place among the house of Israel and offered the sacrifice of our lips in praise and thanksgiving to our G-d. Now we Stand at the foot of mount Sinai and Hashem speaks to us as He did our fathers amidst the Blast of the Shofar, the burning mountain top, and quaking earth. We, in awe of our Great and mighty King and Creator, cover our eyes without right hand as we recite the Shema facing east toward the open Ark and the Torah. -
(toward Yerushalayim where the temple once stood and will again stand)
We bend at the knee and bow before the L-rd our G-d. As I pray the Shema, I imagine The Eternal our G-d speaking to us from within the cloud atop mount Sinai the words of the Shema, and as He speaks his word and power come down upon our people and from there goes out throughout Israel to the four corners of the earth, the goyim (nations), and on until it fills the whole universe. Other times I imagine that He is speaking to our little schull and that His word and power again come down upon us out to the world and fills all of creation. During the recitation of the Shema we join with Jews around the world, holy beings and G-d's purposes for His creation.
Gerald Schroeder in his book, " The Hidden Face of G-d" eloquently comments on the oneness of the Almighty Eternal One, in a way that helps us appreciate how broad in scope of the concept of echad really is. " First, that a unity pervades and underlies all existence. This is the meaning of "The Eternal is One."(Deut 6:4)" "Rather, the infinite metaphysical as perceived by the physical is an all encompassing, universal unity. A total oneness is as close as the several trillion neural connections in our brains can come in our quest to discern the infinite." "When you touch that unity, you perceive and also experience the wonder within which you and all the rest of creation are embedded."
Finally, the Shema points us to a future when all things will be set aright, i.e., all of creation will be in line with G-d's purposes. As touched upon in the Alenu prayer, all will be echad with the Almighty. As it is written: 7 And there shall be one day which shall be known as the LORD'S, not day, and not night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light. 8 And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall the LORD be One, and His name one. Zechariah 14:7-9
audio for the Shema
audio for the V'havtah
(toward Yerushalayim where the temple once stood and will again stand)
We bend at the knee and bow before the L-rd our G-d. As I pray the Shema, I imagine The Eternal our G-d speaking to us from within the cloud atop mount Sinai the words of the Shema, and as He speaks his word and power come down upon our people and from there goes out throughout Israel to the four corners of the earth, the goyim (nations), and on until it fills the whole universe. Other times I imagine that He is speaking to our little schull and that His word and power again come down upon us out to the world and fills all of creation. During the recitation of the Shema we join with Jews around the world, holy beings and G-d's purposes for His creation.
Gerald Schroeder in his book, " The Hidden Face of G-d" eloquently comments on the oneness of the Almighty Eternal One, in a way that helps us appreciate how broad in scope of the concept of echad really is. " First, that a unity pervades and underlies all existence. This is the meaning of "The Eternal is One."(Deut 6:4)" "Rather, the infinite metaphysical as perceived by the physical is an all encompassing, universal unity. A total oneness is as close as the several trillion neural connections in our brains can come in our quest to discern the infinite." "When you touch that unity, you perceive and also experience the wonder within which you and all the rest of creation are embedded."
Finally, the Shema points us to a future when all things will be set aright, i.e., all of creation will be in line with G-d's purposes. As touched upon in the Alenu prayer, all will be echad with the Almighty. As it is written: 7 And there shall be one day which shall be known as the LORD'S, not day, and not night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light. 8 And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall the LORD be One, and His name one. Zechariah 14:7-9
audio for the Shema
audio for the V'havtah
