B. Love - Ahavah
"In the second book I will include all the commandments
that apply constantly and that we were commanded to
observe in order to love G-d and remember Him always, such
as the reading of the shema, prayer, phylacteries, and
the priests' blessing; circumcision is included since
it is a sign in our flesh to remind us always, at times
when there are no phylacteries or fringes or the like.
And I have called this book the Book of Love."
6. Reciting the Shema - Kerias Shema
Twice each day one must recite the shema, which consists
of three sections of the Torah: "Hear, O Israel...",1
"If you listen to my commandments...",2 and "...They
shall make fringes...".3 The first of these proclaims the
unity of Ha-Shem and our love for Him; the second, our
acceptance of all the commandments; and the third also
tells us to remember all the commandments [as it says
"And you shall see them (i.e., the fringes) and remember
all My commandments and perform them"].4 In addition,
the third section contains a reminder of the exodus from
Egypt, as it says "I am Ha-Shem your G-d who brought
you out of the land of Egypt",5 which we are commanded
to remember, as it says "In order that you remember the
day of your departure from the land of Egypt all the days
of your life".6,a A man may recite the shema in any
language that he understands.b
We recite the shema every evening and morning at the
time that people lie down and at the time that they get up, as
it says "And you shall speak about them... when you lie
down and when you get up".7,c Specifically, we recite
it in the evening between the time the stars come out and
dawn (before midnight if possible) and in the morning
between dawn and the end of the first quarter of the day (but
preferably just before sunrise).d We recite two benedictions
before it and one after it in the daytime; two before it
and two after it at night.e
Sources: |
| 1. Deut. 6:4-9 |
a. 1:2-3 |
| 2. Deut. 11:13-21 |
b. 2:10 |
| 3. Num. 15:37-41 |
c. 1:1 |
| 4. Num. 15:39 |
d. 1:9-11 |
| 5. Num. 15:41 |
e. 1:5 |
| 6. Deut. 16:3 |
|
| 7. Deut. 6:7 |
|