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Description:
 If any one statement in the Jew's daily life is his
religious credo, it is the Shema. He recites it every
morning and every night, he recites it when the Day of
Atonement ends, and when death draws new; it is the Jew's
declaration of unshakeable faith in the Oneness of the
Creator. When he goes to sleep it is the highlight of his
prayers for a peaceful slumber and a rejuvenated tomorrow.
The Talmud finds the Ten Commandments in the Shema; the
classic commentators extol it as the supreme expression of
Jewish belief. Through the Jew's mezuzah and in his
tefillin, the Shema sanctifies his home, heart, mind, and
strength.
The chapters of the Shema contain principles of belief and
lessons for everyday life, because Judaism does not
differentiate between faith and action. The Shema calls
upon us not only to believe, but to live our faith
throughout the day, to teach it to our children, and to
maintain the integrity of our tradition.
A study of these chapters as understood by the great minds
of the Jewish past is an education in what it means to be
a Jew, to think as a Jew, to live as a Jew. This slim
volume is such an education. It weaves together countless
strands of inspirational and exegetical thought to create
a tapestry of depth and beauty.
This book is important reading for scholar and layman. It
expands the mind and warms the heart - and it is a
significant contribution to Jewish awareness. |
