Good Morning, Blessed are we! Baruch Hashem Adonai!

 Shalom and Good Morning!

I am blessed! Every day, we should begin our day thanking our Adonai that we are blessed by His great Love and Grace. Perhaps, even if we do not have time for a morning prayer, or forget the importance of saying Shema every single day - actually, most followers of Yeshua are lacking in their education on the importance or even understanding of what Shema is at all.

Do you know about Shema? No? That is OK, I think that this explanation will help a little:

Shema Yisrael (Shema Israel or Sh'ma Yisrael; Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל Šəmaʿ Yīsrāʾēl, "Hear, O Israel") is a Jewish prayer (known as the Shema) that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. Its first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: YHVH our God, YHVH is one" (Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד׃), found in Deuteronomy 6:4.

The first part can be translated as either "The LORD our God" or "The LORD is our God", and the second part as either "the LORD is one" or as "the one LORD" (in the sense of "the LORD alone"), since Hebrew does not normally use a copula in the present tense, so translators must decide by inference whether one is appropriate in English. The word used for "the LORD" is the tetragrammaton YHVH.

Observant Jews consider the Shema to be the most important part of the prayer service in Judaism, and its twice-daily recitation as a mitzvah (religious commandment). Also, it is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words, and for parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night.

The term Shema is used by extension to refer to the whole part of the daily prayers that commences with Shema Yisrael and comprises Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41. These sections of the Torah are read in the weekly Torah portions Va'etchanan, Eikev, and Shlach, respectively.

So, now that we know what Shema is, we should probably have Shema as a script - but doesn't the Savior say that we shouldn't use prayers that are "vain repetitions" (Matthew 6:7) "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." So, where is the line? A wrote prayer is a repetition, but is it vain?

Sometimes I find that looking at other translations that the King James Version is a good way to understand the meaning of a scripture and the intent of the words - so I am going to do that here also:

English Standard Version: "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words."

New International Version: "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words."

New American Standard Bible: "And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words."

It would appear that Yeshua was not condemning the practice of repeating a prayer that was written at all, but rather he was condemning the prayers that are without thought or consideration. The prayers that are mindless sayings of many words just for the sake of saying words that the supplicant is not even really giving any thought or meaning to other than to just get words out and appear to be righteous by their speaking many words. How many times have we heard a person in church or other places get up and give a long eloquent "prayer" that almost seems to be a sermon or lesson rather than a heartfelt pleading with Hashem? Or worse, how oft have I myself given a short - "Thank you lord for this food and this day, bless us all that we will have strength and nourishment, amen." without actually considering the words or the emotion of gratitude that should truly be behind such a prayer? When we ask Hashem to "watch over those who are not with us" or to "see those who travel safely home," are we truly considering the importance of each word and placing our intent and emotion with each phrase? Or are we just using a "vain repetition" that is without that thought or intention? Yes, even the shortest, most off the cuff prayer that we say can be in vain, do you know what prayer that is? Simply stated, it is one word - "Amen." What does that mean? Does it mean "Thank you, Lord, that the meeting is over?" or "I'm glad this prayer is over?" ... this may seem sacreligious to some, however I know that oft I hear the word "Amen" spoken with a sigh of relief, or mumbled with a feeling of repetition... I know, I have done it myself... 

What does it mean? 

Amen, is simply a word that implies that I agree with the afore given prayer. that my will, my desire, my intention is with the speaker of that prayer and that we too ask G-d to hear (Shema) that prayer and in so doing to answer the desire of our collective heart and prayer.

Back to the Shema, since that word has come up again... I will post the english version for you, though you can read it directly from scripture in Deuteronomy and Numbers as mentioned above.

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Cover your eyes with your right hand and say:

Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G‑d, the L-rd is One.

Recite the following verse in an undertone:

Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.

You shall love the L-rd your G‑d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.

And it will be, if you will diligently obey My commandments which I enjoin upon you this day, to love the L-rd your G‑d and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will give rain for your land at the proper time, the early rain and the late rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine and your oil. And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be sated. Take care lest your heart be lured away, and you turn astray and worship alien gods and bow down to them. For then the L-rd's wrath will flare up against you, and He will close the heavens so that there will be no rain and the earth will not yield its produce, and you will swiftly perish from the good land which the L-rd gives you. Therefore, place these words of Mine upon your heart and upon your soul, and bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, to speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates - so that your days and the days of your children may be prolonged on the land which the L-rd swore to your fathers to give to them for as long as the heavens are above the earth.

The L-rd spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and tell them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to attach a thread of blue on the fringe of each corner. They shall be to you as tzizit, and you shall look upon them and remember all the commandments of the L-rd and fulfill them, and you will not follow after your heart and after your eyes by which you go astray - so that you may remember and fulfill all My commandments and be holy to your G‑d. I am the L-rd your G‑d who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your G‑d; I, the L-rd, am your G‑d. True.

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You can also read the Shema in both English and Hebrew (with or without a transliteration) at Chabad.org

If you find the idea of Shema too much, just remember that you are blessed, and that it is Hashem who blesses you, maybe just a quick "Baruch Hashem Adonai," Blessed be the Lord our God! For it is He who blesses you with the breath in your lungs and the strength in your bones and muscles to be able to be about your daily avocation.

Shalom my friends,
Rabbi Raphael.