The Shema is a very special set of words that Jewish people say twice every day. It's a way of showing G-d that we know He is the only G-d that exists, and He isn't made of parts or persons but unique and one. It also is us telling G-d and all His angels that we want to follow His ways and be close to Him. It's a bit like when you have a best friend, and you make a special secret handshake that only you two know—it's special, and it shows you're connected.
What is the Shema?
The Shema is made up of three parts from the Torah. These parts talk about loving G-d with all our heart, remembering and doing all His commandments, and teaching these important ideas to our kids. Even as a kid, you are promising that when you grow up, you'll teach it to your kids too!
The first part tells us to love G-d with everything we have—our heart, our soul, and all our strength. It's like saying, "G-d, You are my number one!"
The second part reminds us that if we listen to G-d and do what He asks, good things will come our way, like rain for our crops. But if we don't listen, things might not go so well. It's like when your parents ask you to do your chores and say if you do, you might get a treat.
The last part is about the physical reminders of G-d's commandments so we don't forget them.
How and When Do We Say It?
We say the Shema in the morning when we wake up and at night before we go to sleep. When we say it, we cover our eyes with our hand. This helps us think only about G-d and our promise to Him, without getting distracted by things we see around us.
Why is the Shema So Important?
It's like our entire day is a book, and the Shema is the front and back cover of the book. Once we open the book, we are in the adventure of the book! And this book is the Shema. It's a whole day of bringing love to His creation and remembering how much G-d loves us. When we go to bed, we close the book by saying the Shema, and then we drift off to sleep.
The Simplified Shema
"Listen, Israel: The L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is one. Love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Keep these rules I give you in your heart. Share them with your kids. Talk about them when you're sitting in your house, walking on the road, going to bed, and waking up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and put them on your forehead. Write them on your house doors and gates.
"If you listen and do what I say today—to love the L-rd your G-d and serve Him with all your heart and soul—I will send rain for your crops when it's time, so you can harvest your grain, your grapes, and your olives. I will make sure there is grass for your animals, and you will have enough to eat. But be careful not to forget and follow other gods. If you do, the L-rd will be upset, and there won't be any rain or crops, and you will not last long in the good land the L-rd is giving you. Keep these words in your heart and mind. Tie them as symbols on your hands and put them on your forehead. Teach them to your children, whether you're at home, walking, lying down, or getting up. Write them on your house doors and gates, so you and your children can live long in the land the L-rd promised your ancestors, as long as the sky is above the earth.
"The L-rd told Moses, 'Tell the Israelites to make tassels on the corners of their clothes and put a blue cord on each tassel. When you see them, you'll remember all the L-rd's commands and follow them. Then you won't chase after your own wants or be led astray by what you see. This way, you'll remember to follow all My commands and be dedicated to your G-d. I am the L-rd your G-d who brought you out of Egypt to be your G-d. I am the L-rd your G-d.'"
Full version
"Hear, O Israel: The L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one. Love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the L-rd your G-d and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the L-rd’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the L-rd is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the L-rd swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."
"The L-rd said to Moses, 'Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the L-rd, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your G-d. I am the L-rd your G-d, who brought you out of Egypt to be your G-d. I am the L-rd your G-d.’"
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