Shema Yisrael, Ado-nai Elo-heinu, Ado-nai Echad

The Shema

Shema Yisrael, Ado-nai Elo-heinu, Ado-nai Echad.
Baruch sheim kavod mal-chuso li-olam va-ed

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One!

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,

With all your soul, and with all your might." (Deut. 6:4-5)


Ever since God's call to Israel as a nation its religion had been centered on the belief of the One True God known as monotheism. This belief sets the nation apart from those that worship idols and other false gods. Abraham was chosen because of his willingness to forsake the gods of his nation and his father, and to worship the One True God (Gen. 12:1-8). Based on this belief and obedience to the One True God, Israel became the chosen people (Ex. 19:5-8). In order to establish a firm foundation for this belief God gave the most important commandment of all that states: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD (YAHWEH) our God, the LORD (YAHWEH) is One! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." (Deut. 6:4-5)   For centuries the verses that begin with these have been known in Jewish tradition as "The Shema" which contains the fundamental truth of Israel's religion. They are recited twice in the daily worship of pious Jews.

The Shema is not only the creed of the Jews in the Old Testament, but it also has a place of prominence for Christians in the New Testament. Referring to the Shema "Jesus answered him, 'The first of all the commandments is 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Mk. 12:29) The foundational truth for the redemption of mankind is that there is One True God who creates and redeems.