Shema

[ shuh-mah, shmah ]

noun

, Judaism.

1. a liturgical prayer, prominent in Jewish history and tradition, that is recited daily at the morning and evening services and expresses the Jewish people's ardent faith in and love of God.

Shema

/ ʃəˈmɑː /

noun

1. the central statement of Jewish belief, the sentence "Hear, O Israel: the Lord is your God; the Lord is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4)
2. the section of the liturgy consisting of this and related biblical passages, Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21 and Numbers 15:37–41, recited in the morning and evening prayers and on retiring at night

Word History and Origins

Origin of Shema¹

From the Hebrew word shəmaʿ listen!

Word History and Origins

Origin of Shema¹

Hebrew, literally: hear

Example Sentences

He would often kiss the earth of Israel; at night, he would say the shema prayer for hours.

From The Daily Beast

Her arrest and detention for uttering the shema ought to find no sympathy from any Jew.

From The Daily Beast

To the commandments of the tongue belong the reading of the Shema, grace after meals, the priestly benediction, and so on.

From Project Gutenberg

The Shema was followed by another benediction voicing gratitude for divine redemption.

From Project Gutenberg

The Inquisition was obliged to forbid the uttering of the word "Shema" with a threat of heavy punishment.

From Project Gutenberg

In this palace a seal was found bearing a lion and the inscription belonging to Shema, the servant of Jeroboam.

From Project Gutenberg

Oesterley (in loco) adds that “the very parchment on which the Shema is written is efficacious in keeping demons at a distance.”

From Project Gutenberg