- What is the difference between the first and second paragraphs of the Sh'ma?
- There are three ways that we relate to God and the universe
- Each paragraph of Shma accepts one of those ways.
- The first paragraph accepts a God with love.
- The second accepts the rules that God made.
- The third accepts the faith that those two opposing views are linked.
אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה: לָמָּה קָדְמָה פָּרָשַׁת ״שְׁמַע״ לְ״וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמוֹעַ״ — כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּקַבֵּל עָלָיו עוֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם תְּחִלָּה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְקַבֵּל עָלָיו עוֹל מִצְוֹת. ״וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמוֹעַ״ לְ״וַיֹּאמֶר״ — שֶׁ״וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמוֹעַ״ נוֹהֵג בֵּין בַּיּוֹם וּבֵין בַּלַּיְלָה, ״וַיֹּאמֶר״ אֵינוֹ נוֹהֵג אֶלָּא בַּיּוֹם בִּלְבַד.
Since the paragraphs of Shema are not adjacent to one another in the Torah, and they are not recited in the order in which they appear, the mishna explains their placement. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: Why, in the mitzva of the recitation of Shema, did the portion of Shema precede that of VeHaya im Shamoa? This is so that one will first accept upon himself the yoke of the kingdom of Heaven, the awareness of God and God’s unity, and only then accept upon himself the yoke of the mitzvot, which appears in the paragraph of VeHaya im Shamoa. Why did VeHaya im Shamoa precede VaYomer? Because the paragraph of VeHaya im Shamoa is practiced both by day and by night, while VaYomer, which discusses the mitzva of ritual fringes, is only practiced during the day.
וְתָאנָא, שְׁמוֹתָיו עַל שֵׁם הַחָכְמָה אִתְקְרוּן, וּבְגִין כַּךְ ג' סִפְרִין עָבֵד, שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים. קֹהֶלֶת. מִשְׁלֵי. וְכֻלְּהוּ לְאַשְׁלְמָא חָכְמְתָא. שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים לָקֳבֵל דְּחֶסֶד. קֹהֶלֶת לָקֳבֵל דְּדִינָא. מִשְׁלֵי לָקֳבֵל דְּרַחֲמֵי. בְּגִין לְאַשְׁלְמָא חָכְמְתָא, וְהוּא עָבֵד כָּל מַה דְּעָבַד בְּגִין לְאַחֲזָאָה חָכְמְתָא, וְלָקֳבֵל דַּרְגָּא (נ"א ולקבל דרזא) עִלָּאָה, וְהוּא אָמַר בִּימֵי הֶבְלִי הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים.
Could he whose names thus symbolize grades of wisdom, and whose three books contain the whole essence of it-the Song of Songs representing Grace; Koleleth, Judgement ; and Proverbs, Mercy-could such a one as he have said: “In the days of my vanity”, and “vanity of vanities”?
תָּנֵינָן, וְאָהַבְתָּ מַאן דְּרָחִים לֵיהּ לְמַלְכָּא, עָבִיד יַתִּיר טִיבוּ חֶסֶד עִם כֹּלָּא. וְחֶסֶד יַתִּירָא, הַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי חֶסֶד דֶּאֱמֶת, דְּלָא בָּעֵי אֲגָר עָלֵיהּ, אֶלָּא בְּגִין רְחִימוּתָא דְּמַלְכָּא, דְּרָחִים לֵיהּ יַתִּיר, וּבִרְחִימוּתָא דְּמַלְכָּא תַּלְיָא חֶסֶד. וְעַל דָּא אִקְרֵי (ישעיהו מ״א:ח׳) אַבְרָהָם אוֹהֲבִי. וּבְגִין דְּרָחִים לֵיהּ יַתִּיר, אַסְגֵּי חֶסֶד בְּעָלְמָא. וְעַל דָּא, הָכָא וְאָהַבְתָּ. וּבִרְחִימוּתָא תַּלְיָא חֶסֶד, וְדָא הִיא בֵּיתָא תְּלִיתָאָה.
We have learnt that he who loves the King does lovingkindness with all, and all the more so if he asks for no reward, which is a “kindness of truth”, through which he increases lovingkindness in the world. Hence this passage goes on, “Thou shalt love”.
בֵּיתָא רְבִיעָאָה, וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמוֹעַ. הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם. וְחָרָה אַף יהוה'. גְּבוּרָה תַּקִּיפָא, וְדִינָא קַשְׁיָא הִיא, וְנַפְקַת מִסִּטְרָא דְּאִימָּא עִלָּאָה. וְתָנֵינָן, אַף עַל גַּב דְּלֵית הִיא דִּינָא, מִסִּטְרָהָא נָפְקָא דִּינָא, (דנפק) גְּבוּרָה עִלָּאָה. וְאִי תֵּימָא, וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמוֹעַ דְּלָאו הִיא דִּינָא. לֵית כִּתְרָא מִכָּל כִּתְרֵי מַלְכָּא, דְּלָא יִתְכְּלִיל דִּינָא וְרַחֲמֵי, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן גְּבוּרָה דְּאִתְכְּלִיל טַב וּבִישׁ.
The fourth compartment contains the passage commencing, “And it shall come to pass if ye diligently hearken”. This passage contains the words, “Take heed to yourselves… and the anger of the Lord be kindled against you”, and this compartment typifies Might and stern judgement, and it comes from the side of the supernal Mother; for we have learnt that although She Herself is not judgement, yet from Her side issues judgement and force.