Meaning of Sh'ma

Byxvi Kaizen

Overview:

- Sh'ma is Testimony

There are two general ways the Zohar describes the meaning of Sh'ma:

First one:

- There are three "names" of God

- The names of God refer to the same concept, so they are "One"

Second one:
- There are four names of God;

- Each word refers to relating to God through a different world.

Synthisis:
- These approaches are actually the same, as the first three letters of God's name are included in the "heavens" or "nature" and the last letter is "earth" or "mankind"

The First verse celebreates God, and how we are connected to God.
The Second verse celebrates how Israel is the name of God, and God is connected to us.

This first Zohar talks about the meaning of saying "Shma Yisrael" Hear o Israel.
It is a call to the community, or Israel, or Humanity, or the Universe, to acknowledge its creator.

ספר הזהר, תרומה י״ב:קכ״ז

וְלָכֵן אָנוּ מְעוֹרְרִים אוֹתוֹ וְאוֹמְרִים (דבריםי) שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל. תַּקְּנִי עַצְמֵךְ, הֲרֵי בַּעְלֵךְ יָבא אֵלַיִךְ בְּתִקּוּנָיו מְזֻמָּן כְּנֶגְדֵּךְ. יקוק אֱלֹקֵינוּ יקוק אֶחָד, בְּיִחוּד אֶחָד, בְּרָצוֹן אֶחָד, בְּלִי פֵרוּד, שֶׁכָּל אוֹתָם הָאֵיבָרִים נַעֲשִׂים אֶחָד, וְנִכְנָסִים בְּאֶחָד בִּתְשׁוּקָה.

Zohar, Terumah 12:127

127. Therefore we stimulate her, MALCHUT, and we say Sh'ma Yisrael, MEANING MALCHUT, FOR THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL ARE INCLUDED IN HER. WE SAY TO MALCHUT, Prepare yourself, for your husband, ZEIR ANPIN, will come to you adorned and he is prepared toward you. "Hashem our Elohim, Hashem is One" (Devarim 6:4). HASHEM IS ABA, OUR ELOHIM IS IMA, HASHEM IS ZEIR ANPIN AS IT IS WRITTEN BEFORE US. They are one, in one union with one desire without separation, and all these limbs, NAMELY SFIROT, become one and enter with one longing.

ספר הזהר, תרומה י״ב:קכ״ח

כֵּיוָן שֶׁאוֹמְרִים יִשְׂרָאֵל ''יקוק אֶחָד'' בְּהִתְעוֹרְרוּת שִׁשָּׁה צְדָדִים, אָז כָּל אוֹתָם שֵׁשֶׁת הַצְּדָדִים נַעֲשִׂים אֶחָד וְנִכְנָסִים בִּתְשׁוּקָה אַחַת, וְסוֹד זֶה ו' אֶחָד, פְּשִׁיטוּת בִּלְבַדּוֹ בְּלִי דְבְקוּת אַחֶרֶת אֵלָיו, אֶלָּא הוּא לְבַדּוֹ פָּשׁוּט מִכֹּל, וְהוּא אֶחָד.

Zohar, Terumah 12:128

128. As soon as the children of Yisrael say, "Hashem is One," ZEIR ANPIN AS MENTIONED ABOVE, with the stimulus of the six sides, THAT RECEIVE FROM ABA AND IMA, THE SECRET OF "HASHEM OUR ELOHIM" AS THEY BECAME ONE, AS MENTIONED. Then all these six sides become one and enter to one longing, WHICH IS YESOD. This is the secret of Vav, ZEIR ANPIN, one expansion. JUST LIKE THE LETTER VAV THAT IS SHAPED LIKE A LINE with nothing attached to it. Only it itself spreads AND IS COMBINED of them all, , and it is one.

ספר הזהר, תרומה נ״ט:תרכ״ט

וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּא אָדָם לְקַבֵּל עָלָיו עֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם, אָז הַשְּׁכִינָה בָּאָה וְשׁוֹרָה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ, וְעוֹמֶדֶת עָלָיו כְּעֵד לְהָעִיד עֵדוּת לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ, שֶׁזֶּהוּ מִי שֶׁמְּיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ פַּעֲמַיִם בְּיוֹם, וּשְׁמוֹ מִתְיַחֵד מַעְלָה וּמַטָּה כָּרָאוּי.

וְלָכֵן ע' מִשְּׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא מֵהָאוֹתִיּוֹת הַגְּדוֹלוֹת, וְגַם ד' מֵהָאוֹתִיּוֹת הַגְּדוֹלוֹת, לִהְיוֹת עֵד לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ.

וַהֲרֵי פֵּרְשׁוּהָ, יְהֹוָ''ה אֱלֹהֵינ''וּ יְהֹוָ''ה, וְזֶהוּ סוֹד הַיִּחוּד בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה צְדָדִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאֲרוֹ הַמְּנוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהִתְעוֹרֵר בּוֹ בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת, וְאֵין לָנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהָעִיר בּוֹ יוֹתֵר.

Zohar, Terumah 59:629

629. At the moment that the person comes to accept upon himself the yoke of the Heavenly Kingdom, then the Shechinah comes and rests on his head and stands over him as a witness. She bears witness before the Holy King that this one unites His name twice daily and His name is united above and below properly. Therefore, the Ayin of 'Sh'ma Yisrael' is of the large letters and the Dalet OF ECHAD (ENG. 'ONE'), is also of the large letters, WHICH ARE THE LETTERS AYIN-DALET (ED, ENG 'WITNESS'), MEANING to be a witness before the Holy King. We have already established that "Hashem our Elohim, Hashem" is the secret of the union on three sides, NAMELY, ABA, IMA, AND ZEIR ANPIN, and this is the secret of the unity in three sides, as the holy luminary has established and has asserted it in many places. We have no permission to assert it any more.

ספר הזהר, בא י״ז:ר״מ

יִחוּד שֶׁל כָּל יוֹם הוּא הַיִּחוּד שֶׁבְּפָסוּק שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יקוק אֱלֹקֵינוּ יקוק. הֲרֵי כֻּלָּם אֶחָד, וְלָכֵן נִקְרָא אֶחָד. הֲרֵי הֵם שְׁלֹשָׁה שֵׁמוֹת, אֵיךְ הֵם אֶחָד? וְאַף עַל גַּב שֶׁקּוֹרְאִים אֶחָד, אֵיךְ הֵם אֶחָד?

Zohar, Bo 17:240

240. The daily profession of unity is a meditation for the sake of knowledge and for paying attention. We have explained this meditation in many places. The daily meditation is the profession of unity in the verse, "Hear, O Yisrael (Sh'ma Yisrael), Hashem our Elohim; Hashem is One." And they are all one. Therefore He is called One. HE ASKS, There are three names here, so how are they one? We proclaim One, NAMELY "HEAR O YISRAEL, HASHEM OUR ELOHIM; HASHEM IS ONE," yet how can they be one?

Here, we see the second approach.

It aligns the meaning of the four last words of Sh'ma with the four letters of God's name.

These four letters correspond to the four worlds.

The four letters of God's name are associated with each "parsha" of the teffilin.

ספר הזהר, תרומה ס״ג:תרנ״ד

אֶלָּא, אוֹתָן אַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הֲרֵי הֵעִירוּ בָהֶן, אַחַת נְקֻדָּה רִאשׁוֹנָה עֶלְיוֹנָה, וְאַחַת סוֹד הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְאַחַת יָמִין, וְאַחַת שְׂמֹאל. אֵלּוּ סוֹד תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. וְכָאן בְּסוֹד הַיִּחוּד הַזֶּה שְׁלֹשָׁה שֵׁמוֹת, וְהֵם כְּמוֹ שֶׁאוֹתָן אַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת

יקוק הָרִאשׁוֹן זוֹ נְקֻדָּה עֶלְיוֹנָה, רֵאשִׁית הַכֹּל. אֱלֹקֵינוּ - סוֹד הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. יקוק הָאַחֲרוֹן - כְּלָל שֶׁל יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל כְּאֶחָד בִּכְלָל אֶחָד, וְאֵלֶּה הֵן תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ, וְזֶהוּ הַיִּחוּד הָרִאשׁוֹן.

Zohar, Terumah 63:654

654. They have observed about these four paragraphs that the one PARAGRAPH, "SANCTIFY" (SHEMOT 13:2), is the first upper point, NAMELY CHOCHMAH AND THE RIGHT COLUMN. Another PARAGRAPH "AND IT SHALL BE WHEN HASHEM SHALL BRING YOU" (IBID. 11), is the secret of the World to Come, WHICH IS BINAH AND THE LEFT COLUMN. One is the secret of the right and one is the secret of the left.This is the secret of the head Tefilin. and here in the secret of the unity OF 'SH'MA YISRAEL' are three names, which are like the four paragraphs.

The first Yud Hei Vav Hei is the upper point, which is the beginning of everything, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH. Our Elohim is the secret of the World to Come, NAMELY BINAH, the last Yud Hei Vav Hei is the combination of right and left together in one combination (vav ketzavot) This is the unity of the head Tefilin. This is the first unity.

Now a few sources that discuss the concept of "Baruch Shem"

Baruch Shem is a reaction to seeing Israel spread the Name or reputation, or knowledge of God.
When we pronounce God's unity, the Name of God is in Israel.
Israel, and the world, becomes the "Kingdom of God."

פסחים נ״ו א:ז׳

דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ: ״וַיִּקְרָא יַעֲקֹב אֶל בָּנָיו וַיֹּאמֶר הֵאָסְפוּ וְאַגִּידָה לָכֶם״. בִּיקֵּשׁ יַעֲקֹב לְגַלּוֹת לְבָנָיו קֵץ הַיָּמִין, וְנִסְתַּלְּקָה מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁכִינָה. אָמַר: שֶׁמָּא חַס וְשָׁלוֹם יֵשׁ בְּמִטָּתִי פְּסוּל, כְּאַבְרָהָם שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וְאָבִי יִצְחָק שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ עֵשָׂו? אָמְרוּ לוֹ בָּנָיו: ״שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, ה׳ אֱלֹקֵינוּ ה׳ אֶחָד״. אָמְרוּ: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין בְּלִבְּךָ אֶלָּא אֶחָד, כָּךְ אֵין בְּלִבֵּנוּ אֶלָּא אֶחָד. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה פָּתַח יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ וְאָמַר: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״.

Pesachim 56a:7

As Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said that it is written: “And Jacob called his sons and said, Gather around and I will tell you what will occur to you in the end of days” (Genesis 49:1). Jacob wanted to reveal to his sons when the complete redemption would arrive at the end of days (see Daniel 12:13), but the Divine Presence abandoned him, rendering him unable to prophesy. He said: Perhaps the Divine Presence has abandoned me because, Heaven forfend, one of my descendants is unfit, as was the case with my grandfather Abraham, from whom Ishmael emerged, and like my father Isaac, from whom Esau emerged. His sons said to him: Hear Israel, our father, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. They said: Just as there is only one God in your heart, so too, there is only one in our hearts. At that moment Jacob our father said in praise: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever, as all his children were righteous.

ספר הזהר, תרומה ס״ג:תרנ״ה

תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל זְרוֹעַ, הַכְּלָל שֶׁל כָּל אֵלֶּה כְּאֶחָד, וְזֶהוּ סוֹד בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. כָּאן הַכְּלָל שֶׁל אוֹתָן תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ שֶׁנִּכְלְלוּ בְתוֹךְ תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל זְרוֹעַ.

Zohar, Terumah 63:655

655. The hand Tefilin is the combination of all these four PARAGRAPHS together. This is the secret OF THE UNITY of, 'Blessed is the Name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever,' WHICH IS THE LOWER UNITY OF MALCHUT. Here, IN THE LOWER UNITY, is the inclusion of the head Tefilin, which are included in the hand Tefilin, WHICH IS MALCHUT.

ספר הזהר, תרומה י״ב:קכ״ט

בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הַגְּבִירָה מִתְתַּקֶּנֶת וּמִתְקַשֶּׁטֶת, וְשַׁמָּשֶׁיהָ מַכְנִיסִים אוֹתָהּ בְּלַחַשׁ רַב אֶל בַּעְלָהּ, וְאוֹמְרִים: בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. זֶהוּ בְּלַחַשׁ, שֶׁכָּךְ צָרִיךְ לְהַכְנִיסָהּ לְבַעְלָהּ. אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁיּוֹדְעִים אֶת זֶה וּמְסַדְּרִים סִדּוּר עֶלְיוֹן שֶׁל הָאֱמוּנָה.

Zohar, Terumah 12:129

129. At that time, Malchut prepares and adorns Herself. The attendants, MEANING THE MAIDENS as it is written, bring her in great secrecy to her husband, ZEIR ANPIN, and say, 'Blessed be the Name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.' This is in secret because this is the way that it is necessary to bring Her to Her husband, ZEIR ANPIN. Happy are the people who know this and perform the supernal order of the Faith, WHICH IS MALCHUT.

ספר הזהר, ויקרא ט״ז:ק״א

וְשָׁנִינוּ בְּפָרָשַׁת שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יקוק אֱלֹקֵינוּ יקוק אֶחָד, מַהוּ אֶחָד? זוֹ כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאֲחוּזָה בַּקָּדוֹשׁ- בָּרוּךְ-הוּא. שֶׁאָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, זִוּוּג שֶׁל זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה נִקְרָא אֶחָד. בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁהַנְּקֵבָה שׁוֹרָה, אֶחָד נִקְרָא. מָה הַטַּעַם? בִּגְלַל שֶׁזָּכָר בְּלִי נְקֵבָה נִקְרָא חֲצִי גוּף, וַחֲצִי אֵינוֹ אֶחָד. וּכְשֶׁמִּתְחַבְּרִים כְּאֶחָד שְׁנֵי חֲצָאֵי גוּף, נַעֲשִׂים גּוּף אֶחָד, וְאָז נִקְרָא אֶחָד.

Zohar, Vayikra 16:101

The following was taught in the section of "Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4) What is one? This is Knesset Israel which is unified with the Holy One, blessed be He. As R' Shimon says: the union of male and female is called one. The place where the female dwells, this is called one. What is the reason for this? Because male without female is called half a body, and half is not one. When two halves of the body are connected, they become one body and then they are called one.