The Shema as God's Royal Proclamation Read Without Burden

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Emor 13:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Micah 6:3): AND HOW HAVE I WEARIED YOU? … [R. Berekhyah said:] A parable about a king who sent his proclamation to a province. What did the people of the province do? They took it, [they stood upon their feet,] and they uncovered their heads, and they read it in fear and in awe, in trembling and in dread. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: This recitation of the Shema is My proclamation. I have not burdened you, and I have not told you that you must recite it neither standing upon your feet nor with your heads uncovered, but (Deuteronomy 6:7) WHEN YOU SIT IN YOUR HOUSE, AND WHEN YOU WALK ON THE ROAD, AND WHEN YOU LIE DOWN, AND WHEN YOU RISE UP.

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