(Deuteronomy 6:4). It's a question that takes us back to a pivotal moment, a deathbed scene filled with both anxiety and profound unity.
Devarim Rabbah 2 paints a vivid picture. Jacob, nearing his end, gathers his sons, the very progenitors of the twelve tribes. He's troubled. A father's worry gnaws at him: will they, his children, stray from the path after he’s gone? Will they perhaps, God forbid, bow down to other gods?
He calls out to them, as we find in Genesis 49:2: “Assemble and hear, sons of Jacob [and heed Israel your father]”. But what does it mean to "heed Israel," el Yisrael, their father? Jacob, in his wisdom, clarifies. He tells them, “The God of Israel [El Yisrael] is your Father.” It’s a moment of profound connection, linking their earthly father to their divine one.
And how do the sons respond? In a resounding declaration, they proclaim the very words we still recite today: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.” Their unified voice washes over Jacob, a balm to his fears.
But the story doesn’t end there. Jacob, filled with joy and perhaps a touch of awe, whispers a blessing: “Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.” It’s a phrase we, too, whisper during the Shema, a silent acknowledgement of God's eternal reign.
Rabbi Levi adds another layer to this beautiful story. He asks, what does Israel, the Jewish people, say now, generations later? We echo the commitment of our ancestors. "Hear, our father Israel," we declare. "The same matter that you commanded us, we continue to observe: 'The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.'"
It's a beautiful cycle of inheritance. A legacy of faith passed down from father to sons, and from generation to generation. Jacob's deathbed becomes not a moment of despair, but a testament to the enduring strength and unity of the Jewish people. The Shema, then, isn’t just a prayer; it's a promise, a connection to our past, and a beacon for our future.