Shema

She·ma  (sh-mä)

n.

A liturgical prayer consisting of three Scriptural passages (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37-41) recited twice daily by adult Jewish males to affirm their faith.

---

[Hebrew ma', hear (the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4), imperative of ma', to hear; see m in Semitic roots.]

---

Shema [ʃəˈmɑː]

n

1. (Non-Christian Religions / Judaism) the central statement of Jewish belief, the sentence ``Hear, O Israel: the Lord is your God; the Lord is One'' (Deuteronomy 6:4)

2. (Non-Christian Religions / Judaism) the section of the liturgy consisting of this and related biblical passages, Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41, recited in the morning and evening prayers and on retiring at night

[Hebrew, literally: hear]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Shema - a liturgical prayer (considered to be the essence of Jewish religion) that is recited at least twice daily by adult Jewish males to declare their faith; "as soon as Leonard learned to talk he was taught to recite the first words of the Shema, the creed of Judaism which originated on Sinai with Moses and is recited daily" prayer - a fixed text used in praying