Shema Yisrael
The central Jewish declaration of faith — a sacred proclamation of God's oneness recited twice daily for over three thousand years.
Original
Transliteration
Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
Translation
Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
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Quick answer
The Shema Yisrael is Judaism's central declaration of faith, proclaiming the oneness of God. Recited twice daily and considered the most sacred sentence in the Hebrew Bible.
- Tradition
- Jewish Chants
- Language
- Hebrew
- Repetitions
- Traditionally recited twice daily; extended contemplatively in meditation.
- Best time
- Upon waking and before sleep — the two daily fixed times in Jewish tradition.
- Best for
- Daily morning and evening prayer, Moments of fear, illness, or death — the final words a Jew traditionally recites, Meditation on divine unity (yichud)
Line by line
Shema Yisrael
Hear, O Israel — a call to inner listening and attention.
Adonai Eloheinu
The Lord is our God — a personal, covenantal relationship.
Adonai Echad
The Lord is One — a declaration of absolute divine unity.
Meaning
Literal
A direct call to the people of Israel to hear and receive the truth that God is one, indivisible, and the sole source of all being.
Spiritual interpretation
The Shema is more than a statement — it is a meditation on oneness. To truly hear it is to remember that behind the many appearances of the world, there is one unified Source. Chanting the Shema slowly, with the eyes closed and the final word 'Echad' extended, is a classic Jewish contemplative practice — a moment of returning the whole self to the awareness of God's unity.
What this mantra is used for
How to chant
Sit comfortably, close the eyes (traditionally covered with the right hand), and chant slowly. Extend the final word 'Echad' — meditating on each letter: Aleph (the One), Chet (heavens and earth), Dalet (the four directions) — dissolving all into the One.
When to chant
Upon waking and before sleep — the two daily fixed times in Jewish tradition.
Traditional count: Traditionally recited twice daily; extended contemplatively in meditation.
Origin & context
Found in the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4), the Shema has been the central affirmation of Jewish faith for over three thousand years — recited by Moses, chanted in the Temple, whispered by mystics, and sung by martyrs throughout history.
Related mantras
Ana Bekoach
A mystical kabbalistic prayer of seven verses, invoking divine power to untangle the knots of the soul and restore harmony.
Shalom Aleichem
The traditional Shabbat evening song welcoming the ministering angels of peace into the home.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Shema Yisrael mean?+
It means 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One' — a proclamation of God's absolute unity.
When is the Shema recited?+
Traditionally twice daily — in the morning (Shacharit) and evening (Ma'ariv) — and again before sleep as the final prayer of the day.
Why is the last word Echad extended?+
Extending 'Echad' (One) is a meditative practice — a moment to contemplate God's unity and dissolve one's sense of separation into the awareness of the One.