The Shema

The Shema is a Jewish prayer that serves as a daily declaration of faith. Jews recite the Shema twice each day, in the morning and in the evening, as well as on holidays and during Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath. The Shema consists of three excerpts from the Torah, and Jews follow certain rules when reciting it. It begins with a six-word phrase—Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad—which translates as "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God; the Lord is One." The phrase "Shema Yisrael" is one of the most well-known Jewish sayings in the world.

An Overview of the Shema

Faithful Jews have been reciting the Shema since ancient times. The Shema consists of three biblical excerpts: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41. The Torah commands Jews to recite the Shema twice each day—"when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:7)—which has been interpreted to mean in the evening when one goes to bed and in the morning when one wakes.

The first part of the Shema is about loving the Lord with all one’s heart, soul, and strength. The second part discusses how the Lord will reward those who follow his commands and punish those who do not. Both the first and second parts of the Shema include specific instructions to speak the declaration of faith twice per day; to wear tefillin, pouches worn on the arm and head that contain slips or small scrolls inscribed with scriptural passages; and to affix a mezuzah, a case containing a scroll with scripture on it, to the doorframe of one’s house.

The last part of the Shema recalls the Jews’ Exodus from Egypt and orders the wearing of tassels called tzitzit as a reminder of God’s commandments. These tassels are attached to the four corners of a shawl-like garment called a tallit, or "prayer shawl." It is common for a Jewish man to wear a tallit during morning worship services.

The Shema comprises 245 words. However, the last three words of the prayer are repeated a second time to bring the total word count to 248. According to Jewish teachings, the 248 words correspond to the 248 parts of the male body, and each word is believed to bring healing to a specific body part. When reciting the Shema with a congregation, often only the prayer leader (chazzan) or group of prayer leaders (minyan) repeats the last three words of the prayer. When praying alone, however, it is customary to repeat these words to oneself.

Rules for Reciting the Shema

The Shema is one of just two prayers (along with the Birkat Ha-Mazon, a blessing delivered after meals) explicitly ordered in the Torah. As such, it is very important to the Jewish faith, and Jews follow specific rules and customs when reciting it.

Timing

The Torah (Deuteronomy 6:7) instructs Jews to recite the Shema "when you lie down and when you get up." The Talmud clarifies that this phrase identifies the time of day when one should recite the Shema—in other words, in the evening and in the morning. The appropriate time frame for reciting the Shema at night is between nightfall—about thirty to forty minutes after sunset—and midnight. The time frame for reciting the prayer in the morning is from an hour before sunrise until about 8:00 a.m. If one cannot remember reciting the Shema, one must recite it again to erase any doubt.

Because the Shema is the central prayer in the Siddur, the Jewish prayer book, it often is the first excerpt from the Torah that children learn. Children who are capable of saying the Shema generally are expected to learn not only to recite it accurately but also to recite it at the appropriate time of day.

Customs

Jews may sit or stand when reciting the Shema, depending on the congregation to which they belong. Before commencing their recital of the Shema, Jews should take time to think about its meaning. Jewish law requires more focused concentration on the first verse of the Shema than on other verses of the prayer. As a result, it is common for people to close their eyes or cover them with their right hand to block out distractions as they speak this verse. They usually speak the first verse aloud; again, this is to sharpen concentration and focus on the meaning of the declaration of faith.

The other verses may be spoken in quieter tones. When people recite the Shema, they should take care to avoid speaking too quickly and slurring words together; each word should be articulated clearly and deliberately. Many recite the Shema in Hebrew, but those who cannot speak Hebrew may recite the Shema in their native language.

At specific points in the first and second verses of the Shema, it is customary to touch the arm tefillin and the head tefillin. During recitation of the third verse, especially when reciting the morning Shema, it is common to gather the tzitzit in one’s right hand and to kiss them each time they are mentioned as a sign of respect and love for the Lord’s commandments.

Jews who are very ill or near death often read the Shema as part of their deathbed confession, declaring their faith in one God for the last time.

Bibliography

Citron, Aryeh. "Laws of Reciting the Shema (Part I)." Chabad.org, 2015, www.chabad.org/library/article‗cdo/aid/955162/jewish/Laws-of-Reciting-the-Shema-Part-I.htm. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.

Citron, Aryeh. "Laws of Reciting the Shema (Part II)." Chabad.org, 2015, www.chabad.org/library/article‗cdo/aid/955327/jewish/Laws-of-Reciting-the-Shema-Part-II.htm. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.

"An Overview of the Shema." Chabad.org, 2015, www.chabad.org/library/article‗cdo/aid/862695/jewish/An-Overview.htm. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.

Schoenberg, Shira. "The Shema." Jewish Virtual Library, 2015, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/shema.html. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.

"The Opening of Shema Prayer Explained." Brandis University, 2 May 2022, www.brandeis.edu/jewish-experience/holidays-religious-traditions/2022/may/shema-explained-kimelman.html. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.

"The Shema." Hebrew for Christians, www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Torah/The‗Shema/the‗shema.html. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.

"Shema." Judaism 101, 2011, www.jewfaq.org/shemaref.htm. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.