Shema Yisrael — The Declaration of Divine Unity
Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל | Source: Devarim 6:4
“Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” (שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהֹוָה אֶחָד)
The Shema is the central declaration of Jewish faith and the cornerstone of Chabad theology.
The Alter Rebbe’s Analysis (Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah)
The Alter Rebbe devotes the entirety of Tanya Part II to unpacking the Shema. Key points:
YHVH Eloheinu — Two Names
YHVH (the Tetragrammaton) represents God as He transcends all worlds (sovev kol almin). Eloheinu (our God, from Elohim, related to power/nature) represents God as He fills and animates the worlds (memaleh kol almin).
The Shema declares: both of these — the transcendent AND the immanent — are Echad (One). There is no dualism between the “infinite God” and the “God of nature.” They are absolutely one.
Echad — One
The dalet (ד) of Echad is written large in the Torah scroll. The dalet (=4) represents God’s sovereignty over the four directions of the physical world. Even physical space is permeated with Divine unity.
Twice Daily
The Shema is recited twice daily (morning and evening) — corresponding to the two general modes of Divine consciousness: ohr ha-yom (light of day, active, revealed) and ohr ha-lailah (light of night, hidden, potential).
Baruch Shem Kavod Malchuto
After the first verse of Shema, we whisper “Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.” This is said quietly because it acknowledges the concealed aspect of Divine glory — revealed fully only in the messianic era. On Yom Kippur it is said aloud, when the concealment is temporarily lifted.
Sources
- Tanya, Part II (Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah) — entire book is a commentary on Shema
- Alter Rebbe
- The Rebbe, extensive sichos on Shema