What questions do you have about Judaism? Submit them online, or fill out the form below.
What is the shema?
The Sh’ma is considered the watchword of our faith. It’s a central prayer in Judaism.
The word means, “Hear.” If the Torah is not out, we cover our eyes when we say the first line so that we focus on listening. The text affirms our faith, our practice, and the oneness of G-d. Traditionally we recite it at least twice a day (upon waking up and going to sleep).
It’s the prayer that’s inside a mezuzah.
– Hyphen Parent
My fellow FāVS writer Jan Shannon, in her article about the solidarity service at Temple Beth Shalom that followed the 2014 Yom Kippur swastika graffiti incident here in Spokane, called the Shema, sometimes transliterated as Sh’ma, “the essence of Judaism.” That’s a fair assessment. Mezuzot, which many Jews place in the doorposts of their homes, contain the first two paragraphs of this fundamental prayer. According to Judaism 101:
The Shema is one of only two prayers that are specifically commanded in Torah (the other is Birkat Ha-Mazon — grace after meals). It is the oldest fixed daily prayer in Judaism, recited morning and night since ancient times.
The first portion of the Shema states, simply: Sh’ma Yisra’eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.
This is generally translated as: “Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” This basic belief undergirds every other aspect of Jewish theology
– Neal Schindler
