Keriat Shema, the twice-daily creed, is a focal point of our prayers, with its first two paragraphs, Shema and Ve-haya im Shamoa, coming from Sefer Devarim: 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 respectively. These two passages share thematic elements and details. In addition, they bookend the “commandments of faith."

These similarities are readily apparent if we read the expanded text of Shema (Devarim 6) along with the expanded text of Ve-haya im Shamoa (10:12–11:25). 

The correspondence between the two units is clearly apparent. We delve into what comes in between, and we consider the clear connections between these two units and the opening statement of the Ten Commandments.

 

6 pages
Courtesy of the Virtual Beit Midrash, Yeshivat Har Etzion