We humans are said to be whole worlds unto ourselves and paradigms of the entire universe. Thus, what happens to us reflects and impacts upon the cosmos (and vice versa). Now, that also touches upon our reciting “Shema Yisroel”. For when we do, we do even more to urge on the world’s rectification, but on another level.

And that’s so because besides there being an interrelationship between ourselves and the universe, there’s also an affinity between ourselves and “Shema Yisroel”. For it contains 248 words and we’re composed of 248 organs. (Western physiology has arrived at another count for our organs, but understand that the final tally is arbitrary; for some organs that are now counted as one could certainly be considered two depending on their functions and vice versa).

So, when we enable the light of G-d’s Sovereignty to shine upon us when we recite “Shema Yisroel” and to then foster a certain occult refinement of our beings, we allow the same thing to happen to the entire universe, thanks to our interrelationship with it.

Thus, while we help bring about the *ultimate* rectification of the entire universe (see 4:4:3,8) and affirm the rectification of the exodus from Egypt (see 4:4:9) whenever we recite “Shema Yisroel”, we also allow for another, smaller degree of rectification to come about in the universe in the here- and-now.

Text Copyright © 2004 by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman and Torah.org.