Synopses & Reviews
Hear O Israel, the Eternal is Our God, the Eternal is One There is arguably no more important statement in Judaism than the Sh'ma. Its wordscalling us to hear, to listen, to pay attentiondefy direct translation and have meant different things throughout history.
In a deeply personal exploration of this sacred proclamation, command and prayer, Rabbi Joseph Meszler delves into the spiritual history of the Sh'ma, inspiring you to claim your own personal meaning in these enduring words. By examining how the Sh'ma has been commented upon by ancient sages and contemporary thinkers, he opens the doors between each generation that has found a different dimension of truth in the Sh'ma.
Each chapter focuses on a major historical figure and includes a sacred story, an exploration into the story's many meanings and a suggestion for a new way of hearing the voice in the story. Experience the Sh'ma through the lives of:
MosesFighting Idolatry
Akiba ben JosephThe Sages Offer Their Lives
Saaida GaonProving the One
Moses MaimonidesNothing Like God
Haim VitalCommuning with the One
Moses Haim Luzzatto Master of the Universe
Abraham Isaac KookA Nation Reborn
Leo BaeckOne Moral Standard
Abraham Joshua HeschelA Prophecy: One World or No World