Let’s take a few minutes to talk about the Shema. I don’t even really have to add the other five words, do I? I bet you can hear it in your head right now, to that same heralding tune we all know! This probably isn’t true for everyone reading this, but I bet for many/most people, if I hypothetically woke you up at 3am and said “Shema…!”, you could add - bleary-eyed and confused - “… Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.” And then promptly fall back asleep. The Shema prayer is essentially *the* most well-known verse in all of the Torah, and in all of our daily prayers. And yes, its triumphant, exclusive appearance takes place in this week’s Torah portion. Sooo… what do we really know about the Shema?
Well, for one thing, I wonder how many people have stopped and noted that our #1 most famous prayer - and prayer, as we know, is directed to God - isn’t addressing God at all. It’s right there in the first two words, I just don’t think a lot of people have reflected on it: “Shema Yisrael,” meaning, “Hear, O Israel…” Usually we say things like “Baruch Atah Adonai,” “Praised are YOU, Adonai,” but not here. In my mind, I picture Moses - who most often is speaking with, to, and for the Divine - turning around, facing *away* from God, and speaking to us, the people. It’s not even really a prayer, but a declarative statement. It’s entirely a human-to-human interaction; heavily emphasizing the importance of community, collective belief, and shared creed. And more than anything else, it is a proclamation of monotheism, and of complete loyalty to THE One God, who has a unique relationship with us, the people of Israel.
Another interesting feature of this verse, Deuteronomy 6:4, is how it is actually written in the Torah. In every Torah scroll across the globe, the last letter of the first word, and the last letter of the final word, are written in large, bold font. The letter Ayin in “Shema,” and the letter Daled in “Echad,” seemingly radiate off the page to form their own word, “Eid,” meaning “witness.” The rabbinic interpretation of this peculiar script is that we all are meant to testify and bear witness to the essential truths of this verse. It is not enough to just know it on your own, but we encourage one another to remember the exclusivity of God, and how precious is our relationship with Adonai.
Several rabbinic commentators also point out that while Moses more often instructs the Israelites to be loyal to “Adonai, YOUR God,” here Moses makes a point of including himself, both because of everything God has done for him, and to further hit home the point that we are *all* part of this covenant and theological partnership; no one is excluded and no one is exempt. What a powerful message to convey in only SIX words! Add to this our Jewish history of times when we’ve been banned from saying these words aloud; have huddled together in secrecy to declare the Shema for comfort, unity, strength, and courage; and stories in our tradition of martyrs who died uttering these very words - and the Shema becomes even more meaningful. Many of us know it by heart, and it may seem mundane and basic, but I hope we can all pause and appreciate the depth and potency of this short, majestic, declarative creed. Do you hear what I’m saying, O Israel??
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