1. How would you describe the themes of the prayer?
2. Where does the content seem to change?
3. Where do you notice biblical verses in this prayer? What role do they play?
(א) הקורא את שמע צריך להזכיר יציאת מצרים באמת ויציב רבי אומר צריך להזכיר בה מלכות אחרים אומרים צריך להזכיר בה מכת בכורות וקריעת ים סוף.
(1) One who says the Shema' must mention the exodus from Egypt when saying "Emet Veyatziv". Rabbi [Yehuda] says that one must mention kingship. Others say that one must mention the death of the first born and the splitting of the Red Sea.
(א) אָמַר לָהֶם הַמְמֻנֶּה, בָּרְכוּ בְרָכָה אֶחַת, וְהֵן בֵּרְכוּ. קָרְאוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, שְׁמַע, וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ, וַיֹּאמֶר. בֵּרְכוּ אֶת הָעָם שָׁלשׁ בְּרָכוֹת, אֱמֶת וְיַצִּיב, וַעֲבוֹדָה, וּבִרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים...
(1) The appointed [priest] said to them: “Bless (barekhu) one blessing!”, and they blessed. They then recited the Ten Commandments, 'Shema', 'Vehaya im Shamoa' and 'Vayomer' [the three paragraphs of the Shema]. They also blessed the people with these three blessings: Emet Veyatziv [the blessing that follows the Shema in the morning prayer], 'Avodah [the blessing in the 'Amidah calling for God to accept the Temple service], and the Priestly Blessing...