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Shema (Hebrew: שמע — Shema)

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The Shema is a central Jewish liturgical prayer originating in the Hebrew Bible (Deuteronomy 6:4) and serves as a devotional declaration of monotheism in Jewish morning and evening services. The supplied sources present it as a communal liturgical affirmation rather than a ritual aimed at exorcism or magical protection.

Claimed Effect

Within the tradition as described in the provided sources, the Shema functions to encapsulate and articulate the monotheistic essence of Judaism — affirming that 'YHWH our God, YHWH is one.'

Description

The Shema is presented in the supplied material as a central prayer in Jewish liturgy, quoted from Deuteronomy 6:4. The sources identify it specifically as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services, emphasizing its doctrinal role in declaring the unity of God. The available materials do not provide detailed procedural information, associated ritual objects, specialist roles, or any presentation of the Shema as a protective, cleansing, or exorcistic rite. Because the source material is limited to a general descriptive account and the opening verse, this entry confines itself to those documented functions and context.

Procedure
  1. 01No specific procedural steps are provided in the supplied sources; the only documented information is that the Shema serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services and its opening verse is Deuteronomy 6:4 ('Hear, O Israel: YHWH our God, YHWH is one').
Contraindications
  • ⚠None specified in the provided sources — no cautions, risks, or conditions for non-performance are documented in the available material.

Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    Shema. Wikipedia: 'Shema Yisrael is a Jewish prayer that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services.'; cites Deuteronomy 6:4 as the opening verse which 'encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: YHWH our God, YHWH is one."'wiki
  2. [2]
    Wikidata entry: Shema. Wikidata identifier for Shema (no additional procedural details in supplied materials).other
  3. [3]
    C-SPAN2 Book TV (Archive). Provided as part of the research packet; contains no substantive additional information about Shema in the supplied excerpts.other
  4. [4]
    Shema v. Esposito (Archive). Court-file archive included in research packet; no substantive information about the liturgical Shema in the supplied excerpts.other
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