<P> Shema Yisrael (or Sh'ma Yisrael; Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ‎; "Hear, (O) Israel") are the first two words of a section of the Torah, and is the title (sometimes shortened to simply Shema) of a prayer that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services . The first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one" (Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד ׃ ‎), found in Deuteronomy 6: 4, sometimes alternatively translated as "The LORD is our God, the LORD is one ." Observant Jews consider the Shema to be the most important part of the prayer service in Judaism, and its twice - daily recitation as a mitzvah (religious commandment). It is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words, and for parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night . </P> <P> The term "Shema" is used by extension to refer to the whole part of the daily prayers that commences with Shema Yisrael and comprises Deuteronomy 6: 4--9, 11: 13 - 21, and Numbers 15: 37--41 . These sections of the Torah are read in the weekly Torah portions Va'etchanan, Eikev, and Shlach, respectively . </P> <P> Originally, the Shema consisted of only one verse: Deuteronomy 6: 4 (see Talmud Sukkah 42a and Berachot 13b). The recitation of the Shema in the liturgy, however, consists of three portions: Deuteronomy 6: 4--9, 11: 13 - 21, and Numbers 15: 37--41 . The three portions are already mentioned in the Mishnah (Berachot 2: 2). The three portions relate to central issues of Jewish belief . In the Mishnah (Berakhot 2: 5) the reciting of the shema was linked with re-affirming a personal relationship with God's rule . Literally, reciting the shema was stated as "receiving the kingdom of heaven ." ("Heaven" is a metaphor for God . The best texts of the Mishnah, Kaufmann and Parma, do not have the addition "yoke" that is found in later printed Mishnahs: "receive the (yoke of the) kingdom of Heaven ." The original statement appears to have been "to receive the kingdom of Heaven") </P> <P> Additionally, the Talmud points out that subtle references to the Ten Commandments can be found in the three portions . As the Ten Commandments were removed from daily prayer in the Mishnaic period (70 - 200 CE), the Shema is seen as an opportunity to commemorate the Ten Commandments . </P>

Hear oh israel the lord thy god is one