Worship Devotion

Scripture References:

• Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV): “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Reflection:

The Shema is a central prayer in Judaism, serving as a daily affirmation of faith. It proclaims the foundational truth that “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” This declaration calls us to recognize God’s singular sovereignty and to respond with total devotion.

Loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength encompasses every aspect of our being. It’s a call to undivided loyalty and passionate commitment.

By engaging with “Shema Yisrael,” we connect with the rich heritage of faith that predates us. It reminds us that we are part of a larger story—one that began long before us and will continue after us.

Prayer:

“Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad—Lord our God, the Lord is one. We affirm Your oneness and supremacy. Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, and strength. Let this ancient prayer resonate in our hearts, drawing us closer to You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.”

Traditional Shema Yisrael (in Hebrew):

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהוָה אֶחָד.

וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶךָ.

וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָֽנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל־לְבָבֶךָ.

וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ.

וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת עַל־יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטוֹטָפוֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ.

וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזוּזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ.

Traditional Shema Yisrael (in English):

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Phonetic Pronunciation:

1. Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad

(Sheh-mah Yis-rah-el Ah-doh-nigh Eh-loh-hay-noo Ah-doh-nigh Eh-chahd)

2. Ve’ahavta et Adonai Elohecha, bechol levavcha, u’vechol nafshecha, u’vechol me’odecha

(Veh-ah-hav-ta et Ah-doh-nigh Eh-loh-heh-cha, be-chol le-vav-cha, oov-chol naf-she-cha, oov-chol me-o-de-cha)

3. Ve’hayu ha’devarim ha’eleh asher anochi metzavecha hayom al levavecha

(Veh-hah-yoo hah-deh-va-reem ha-el-eh a-sher a-no-chi me-tza-veh-cha ha-yom al le-va-ve-cha)

4. V’shinantam l’vanecha v’dibarta bam, b’shivtecha b’veitecha uv’lechtecha vaderech u’vshachbecha u’vkumecha

(Veh-shee-nan-tam le-va-ne-cha veh-dee-bar-ta bam, be-sheev-te-cha be-ve-te-cha, oo-ve-lech-te-cha va-de-rech oo-ve-shach-be-cha oo-ve-koom-me-cha)

5. U’kshartam l’ot al yadecha v’hayu l’totafot bein einecha

(Oo-kshar-tam le-ot al ya-de-cha veh-ha-yoo le-to-ta-fot bein ay-neh-cha)

6. U’chtavtam al mezuzot beitecha u’visharecha

(Oo-che-tav-tam al me-zu-zot bei-te-cha oo-vi-sha-re-cha)