The Shema is a declaration of faith, a
pledge of allegiance to One God. It is
said upon arising in the morning and
upon going to sleep at night. It is
said when praising God and when
beseeching Him. It is the first prayer
that a Jewish child is taught to say.
It is the last words a Jew says prior
to death.
The Talmud says that when Jacob was
about to reveal the end of days to his
children, he was concerned that one of
them might be a non-believer. His
sons
reassured him immediately and cried
out, "Shema Yisrael."
