by Robert Bullard

Created on: November 03, 2009

The Shema is considered to be the most important prayer in all of Judaism; it is even considered the essence of Judaism itself. This 3-part prayer is an affirmation of the Jewish faith, and is said at least twice a day (in the morning and the evening) by Jewish males. Although women can and do recite the Shema, it is not required of them as it is for the men.

The first section of this prayer can be found in Deut. 6:4-9. The significant meaning of these six verses can be summed up in the first verse - Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. Although this passage is self-explanatory, it bears repeating that it refers to the fact that God is the one true sovereign God, and there is no other. This message is so important, that originally the Shema consisted only of this verse alone, and is repeated throughout each of these prayer services.

It was enlightening to see yet another example of how the forms, values and meanings of the Hebrew language can change by the smallest of differences. Take this same verse for instance if the jot or tittle or iota as it's know, is removed from the Dalet it would become a Reish (changing the word Echad to Acher), which would make the verse read - Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is another.

The next part of this prayer is in Deut. 11:13-21. These nine verses refer to the promise that God made that if His people would love and serve Him with all their souls and obey His commandments, that He will bless them. The final part can be found in Numbers 15:37-41, this part has to do with having a physical reminder of the commandments of God. They were to make tassels (attached to their garments), in order to remember the commandments of the Lord and follow them not the lusts of their own hearts.

All these parts have one basic theme - to honor the Lord your God, and love Him with all of your heart - familiar words from our Messiah.

To me, this just re-affirms that there is only one true God (which we all know to be true - deep down inside) as well as the fact that we should strive daily to fulfill His goal for me.

Because, in the end the most important part of my life, is how happy I made God.

And I hope it is to you too.

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