Thursday, March 28, 2024 -
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The Shema: What it means to me

Hebrew words. That’s all it takes to define the essence of Judaism: the unity of G-d and the unity of the Jewish people. “Hear O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is one.” (Deut. 6:4) The Shema — the Jewish daily declaration of faith. It is probably the most well known and pivotal Jewish prayer because it communicates to us, and to the world, Judaism’s core tenet, revolutionary when first introduced: monotheism, a concept brought to the world by the Jewish forefather Abraham. The Shema is not only about a unitary G-d. It also encapsulates the idea of community, “our G-d,” not “my G-d.” We call out to the nation, “Hear O Israel,” so that all may hear and participate. During prayer services — the […]
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