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The Shema Incorporates the Core Values and Identity of Judaism
Reading from a Torah scroll in accordance with Sephardi tradition. Photo: Sagie Maoz via Wikimedia Commons.
Apart from the opening statements of the so-called Ten Commandments, there is very little that we would call theology in the Torah. Even descriptions of God are indirect, and there isn’t anything obvious about how to relate to God, other than pure obedience and loyalty.
The first paragraph of the Shema, which we read this week, is a unique and multi-faceted response.
Hear, Israel, HaShem is our God, HaShem is one.
You shall love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
These things that I command you this day should always be close to your hearts.
And you should teach them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are traveling, when you lie down and when you get up.
And bind them as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead.
This is often called an expression, or declaration, of faith. It is our commitment to the God of Israel.
The Shema is recited at least twice a day, morning and night. It was the defiant declaration of Jews martyred by the Romans, like Rabbi Akiva; those burnt at the stake by the Inquisition; and of Jews entering the Nazi jaws of hell. It is also the last declaration made on one’s death bed. It is probably the most significant and well-known part of Jewish liturgy, and the very core of our culture — even for those not particularly religious.
But it is not like a credo that you have to believe to be a Christian, or the Muslim Shahada, which both include other beliefs such as in human beings. Moses is not mentioned.
But it starts with the words “Hear [or understand] Israel.” The invitation to pay attention, to recognize the importance and significance of something is paramount, and “Israel” addresses the people — us. So far, no mention of God but of peoplehood, identity, belonging. And it is inclusive of everyone.
And then we come to God. Yet the words here still do not tell us much about God. It is often said that the Hebrew God is angry and vengeful. But such dishonest polemic ignores that a loving God, Ahavah, is mentioned more often than any other emotion. Although it is often paired with Yira, respect or even awe, here the word love stands out alone and emphasizes the emotional and mystical aspect of Jewish life, before turning to the practical.
It is the practical that truly differentiates Judaism from other religions. Yes, we do have important, fundamental concepts and ideas — but such ideas are very subjective and can be understood by different people with different minds and attitudes. Practice on the other hand is the same for everyone. And whereas in many religions there is a difference between priestly classes and regulations, in Judaism outside of Temple affairs, everyone was expected to adhere to the tradition. We are a nation of priests in that sense.
Perhaps the most important and universal element in the Shema, although mentioned recurring times elsewhere, is the obligation to teach our children. And we are instructed to do this by example, repetition, and showing them what matters in daily life. For this is what has ensured our continuity.
The statements about writing these ideas on the door posts of our homes and binding them to our arm and head have been understood symbolically or metaphorically by different groups such as Samaritans, Ka’arites, and Reform Judaism. The rabbinic oral interpretation was to take them literally. Hence the Mezuzot and Tefillin that play a significant part in Jewish identity.
This very important small paragraph, in its poetic form, incorporates the fundamentals and core ideas of Judaism.
The author is a writer and rabbi, currently based in New York.
The post The Shema Incorporates the Core Values and Identity of Judaism first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Rubio Heads to Israel Amid Tensions Among US Middle East Allies
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to members of the media, before departing for Israel at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, September 13, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Nathan Howard/Pool
US President Donald Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio headed to Israel on Saturday, amid tensions with fellow US allies in the Middle East over Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar and expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
Speaking to reporters before departure, Rubio reiterated that the US and President Donald Trump were not happy about the strikes.
Rubio said the US relationship with Israel would not be affected, but that he would discuss with the Israelis how the strike would affect Trump’s desire to secure the return of all the hostages held by Hamas, get rid of the terrorists and end the Gaza war.
“What’s happened, has happened,” he said. “We’re gonna meet with them. We’re gonna talk about what the future holds,” he said.
“There are still 48 hostages that deserve to be released immediately, all at once. And there is still the hard work ahead once this ends, of rebuilding Gaza in a way that provides people the quality of life that they all want.”
Rubio said it had yet to be determined who would do that, who would pay for it and who would be in charge of the process.
After Israel, Rubio is due to join Trump’s planned visit to Britain next week.
Hamas still holds 48 hostages, and Qatar has been one of the mediators, along with the US, trying to secure a ceasefire deal that would include the captives’ release.
On Tuesday, Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Doha. US officials described it as a unilateral escalation that did not serve American or Israeli interests.
The strike on the territory of a close US ally sparked broad condemnation from other Arab states and derailed ceasefire and hostage talks brokered by Qatar.
On Friday, Rubio met with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at the White House, underscoring competing interests in the region that Rubio will seek to balance on his trip. Later that day, US President Donald Trump held dinner with the prime minister in New York.
Rubio’s trip comes ahead of high-level meetings at the United Nations in New York later this month. Countries including France and Britain are expected to recognize Palestinian statehood, a move opposed by Israel.
Washington says such recognition would bolster Hamas and Rubio has suggested the move could spur the annexation of the West Bank sought by hardline members of the Israeli government.
ON Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an agreement to push ahead with a settlement expansion plan that would cut across West Bank land that the Palestinians seek for a state. Last week, the United Arab Emirates warned that this would cross a red line and undermine the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords that normalized UAE-Israel relations in 2020.
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Netanyahu Posts Message Appearing to Confirm Hamas Leaders Survived Doha Strike
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
i24 News – In a statement posted to social media on Saturday evening, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Qatar-based leadership of Hamas, reiterating that the jihadist group had to regard for the lives of Gazans and represented an obstacle to ending the war and releasing the Israelis it held hostage.
The wording of Netanyahu’s message appeared to confirm that the strike targeting the Hamas leaders in Doha was not crowned with success.
“The Hamas terrorists chiefs living in Qatar don’t care about the people in Gaza,” wrote Netanyahu. “They blocked all ceasefire attempts in order to endlessly drag out the war.” He added that “Getting rid of them would rid the main obstacle to releasing all our hostages and ending the war.”
Israel is yet to officially comment on the result of the strike, which has incurred widespread international criticism.
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Trump Hosts Qatari Prime Minister After Israeli Attack in Doha
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani attends an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, following an Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, Sept. 11, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
US President Donald Trump held dinner with the Qatari prime minister in New York on Friday, days after US ally Israel attacked Hamas leaders in Doha.
Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an attack in Qatar on Tuesday, a strike that risked derailing US-backed efforts to broker a truce in Gaza and end the nearly two-year-old conflict. The attack was widely condemned in the Middle East and beyond as an act that could escalate tensions in a region already on edge.
Trump expressed annoyance about the strike in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and sought to assure the Qataris that such attacks would not happen again.
Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani were joined by a top Trump adviser, US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
“Great dinner with POTUS. Just ended,” Qatar’s deputy chief of mission, Hamah Al-Muftah, said on X.
The White House confirmed the dinner had taken place but offered no details.
The session followed an hour-long meeting that al-Thani had at the White House on Friday with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A source briefed on the meeting said they discussed Qatar’s future as a mediator in the region and defense cooperation in the wake of the Israeli strikes against Hamas in Doha.
Trump said he was unhappy with Israel’s strike, which he described as a unilateral action that did not advance US or Israeli interests.
Washington counts Qatar as a strong Gulf ally. Qatar has been a main mediator in long-running negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and for a post-conflict plan for the territory.
Al-Thani blamed Israel on Tuesday for trying to sabotage chances for peace but said Qatar would not be deterred from its role as mediator.