Va'etchanan

Shema: A Prayer for All Stages

Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan

Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad

Listen Israel! The Ineffable is our God, the Ineffable is One.

(Devarim/Deuteronomy 6:4)

James Fowler speaks of six possible stages in the development of a person's religious faith.  In stage one, a child encounters religion as magical and larger than life.  In stage two, one learns the literal stories and teachings of a religious tradition.  In stage three, one enjoys religious community.  In stage four, one begins to question.  In stage five, a person answers their own questions through symbolic reinterpretation of traditional stories.  In stage six, a person understands religious ethics and core teachings universally.

The Shema prayer offers teaching to seekers at almost every stage.  Those who are learning stories in stage two will recognize the Shema as a core teaching from our prophet Moshe.  For those enjoying community in stage three, the Shema calls together the community of Yisrael - Israelites - in the name of the Divine.  For the questioners in stage four, it calls to Yisrael - translated literally as "God-wrestlers" - to ponder religious teachings.  For the symbolic interpreters in stage five, it invites multiple interpretations of "God" and "One."  To the universalists in stage six, it teaches that all human representations of God ultimately refer to the Holy One.

No wonder the Shema is the most famous mantra in Jewish prayer!  It's a gift of words that keeps on giving.

Return to Reb Laura's "Taste of Torah" list.

Return to "Teachings from Our Rabbis and Friends" list.

---

[ Home ]	[ Asiyah ]	[ Yetzirah ]	[ Briyah ]	[ Atzilut ]	[ Calendar ]
	( Doing )	( Feeling )	( Knowing )	( Being )