The response "Baruk Shem" ("Praised be the name of His glorified kingdom forever and ever") is ascribed to the patriarch Jacob by R. Judah ha-Nasi, being preoccupied with his studies, put his hand over his eyes and repeated the first verse in silence (Ber. The reciting of the first verse of the "Shema'" is called the acceptance of the yoke of the kingship of God" (Ber. ![]() 4), and teach him to read the "Shema'" (Suk. As soon as a child begins to speak his father is directed to teach him the verse "Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob" (Deut. 12b).Īccording to the Talmud, the reading of the "Shema'" morning and evening fulfils the commandment "Thou shalt meditate therein day and night" (Josh. 18-24), but that they finally decided not to do so, because they thought the "Shema'" already sufficiently long, and they did not care to overburden the congregation (Ber. Zabida, in explaining why the portion regarding ẓiẓit was incorporated, says that the Rabbis had proposed to add the chapter of Balak (referring especially to Num. The composition of the "Shema'" itself developed gradually. They are of Essene origin (see Rapoport in his biography of Ḳalir), and were first instituted in the Temple liturgy (comp. 4) are credited to the members of the Great Assembly. The Benedictions preceding and following the Shema'" (Ber. Queen Helen of Adiabene fixed a gold candelabrum in front of the Temple, which reflected the first rays of the sun and thus indicated the time of reciting the "Shema'" (Yoma 37b). Joshua, however, extends the time until three hours of daylight have passed, because princes and men of leisure do not rise till then ( ib.). Similarly, the time of reading the morning "Shema'" is fixed by the ḥakamim to begin at daybreak, when there is sufficient light to distinguish between purple and white, or to recognize a person, after a short acquaintance, at a distance of four ells, and to last until the sun's rays are seen. ![]() This difference of opinion, rests on the interpretation of "lying down," as to whether it means the regular or the latest hour of retiring, or the whole time during which people usually sleep-that is, all night. Eliezer, or at midnight, according to the "ḥakamim" (the majority of rabbis) or it lasts till the rise of the morning star, according to R. The time for reading the evening "Shema'" begins with twilight and ends four hours after, according to R. The school of Shammai takes it literally, saying that the evening "Shema'" shall be read in a reclining or resting posture, and that the morning "Shema'" shall be read standing the school of Hillel asserts that it refers not to the posture, but to the times of reclining and rising. 1-2) as a matter of course, and rests upon the interpretation of ("when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" Deut. The reading of the "Shema'" morning, and evening is spoken of in the Mishnah (Ber. 8), and it has always been regarded as a divine commandment (see, however, Sifre, Deut. The commandment to read the "Shema'", twice daily is ascribed by Josephus to Moses ("Ant." iv. The third portion contains the law concerning the ẓiẓit, as a reminder that all the laws of God are to be obeyed, as a warning against following the evil inclinations of the heart, and, finally, in remembrance of the exodus from Egypt. The second portion contains the promise of reward for the fulfilment of the laws, and the threat of punishment for their transgression, with a repetition of the contents of the first portion. The first of the three portions of the "Shema'" contains the command to love God with heart, soul, and might to remember all commandments and instruct the children therein to recite the words of God when retiring or rising to bind those words on the arm and the head, and to inscribe them on the door-posts and on the city gates. The first verse, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord," has ever been regarded as the confession of belief in the One God. 13b) the regular "Shema'" in the liturgy, however, consists of three portions: Deut. ![]() Originally, the "Shema'" consisted only of the one verse, Deut. Initial word of the verse, or chapter, recited as the confession of the Jewish faith.
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