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Reciting "Shema" (Deut. 6:4-9, etc.) - Printable Version

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Reciting "Shema" (Deut. 6:4-9, etc.) - ProudNoachide - 08-27-2007

Hi Director Michael and Rabbis-
  I thought I'd heard Noahides aren't supposed to pray the whole Shema, which mentions the Jewish mitzvah of affixing a mezzuzah and so forth, Can we say the whole thing or just "Hear O Israel..."?
Which parts can we do, even if we are in a synagogue?
                      Thank you


RE: Noahide Prayer -- The Shema - Director Michael - 08-29-2007

An observant Noahide is allowed to read / recite any of the verses of the Tanach (the Hebrew Bible). This should be done in a language that the person understands, and only reliable translations should be used. Many of the verses in the Five Books of Moses speak about Jewish commandments which involve ritual matters that should only be observed by Jews. (For a full explanation of this, see The Divine Code, Part I, chapter 3.) Some examples are verses that speak about the Jewish commandments of affixing a mezzuzah on a doorpost (Deut. 6:9, 11:20), or putting on tefilin (Deut. 6:8, 11:18) or a 4-cornered garment with tzitzit fringes (Numbers 15:37-41). (These are mentioned in the three paragraphs of the "Shema" prayer.) A Noahide can draw inspiration and insight from Jewish commandments which are not incumbent on non-Jews, as long as he understands that he is not obligated (and in some cases such as the ones mentioned, not allowed) to observe them. The verse "Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One" (Deut. 6:4) speaks about G-d's complete unity. A Jewish man is commanded to recite this during specific periods of time every day. It seems that Gentiles/Noahides should not take that upon themselves as a fixed practice, because of the prohibition of adding on observance of a ritual commandment.


The "Sh'ma" in Ashkenazic liturgy - Mattityahu ben Noach - 04-29-2009

I have taken the liberty of recording a cantor singing the passages contained in the Sh'ma, and have it on my MP3 player, first so that I may pray to HaShem whenever I feel the urge, and so that I have the ability to learn the exact pronunciation whenever I recite the Sh'ma.
I have been mentally inserting the phrase above, as well as "Boruch shem kavod malkhuto le'olam va'ed," in the appropriate place (after the first verse of "Sh'ma"). Does that phrase appear in the Torah?
Finally, should I NOT be doing what I have been?
Toda rabba.


RE: The "Sh'ma" in Ashkenazic liturgy - Director Michael - 05-07-2009

It is permitted for an observant Noahide to pray by reciting verses from the Hebrew Bible in Hebrew, IF he understands what he is saying.
Otherwise, his studying and reciting of verses should be from a translation in a language he understands, as published or provided by a reliable Orthodox Jewish translator.

Mattityahu ben Noach Wrote:Finally, should I NOT be doing what I have been?

Again, it's OK to recite verses from the Hebrew Scriptures as prayers, and this can be in Hebrew if you understand what you're saying.


RE: Reciting "Shema" (Deut. 6:4-9, etc.) - Joachim ben Noach - 10-23-2009

Director Michael in post 4:
"It is permitted for an observant Noahide to pray by reciting verses from the Hebrew Bible in Hebrew, IF he understands what he is saying.
Otherwise, his studying and reciting of verses should be from a translation in a language he understands, as published or provided by a reliable Orthodox Jewish translator."
___

So,
While learning psalms in Hebrew, may one pray them in Hebrew though one does not yet grasp the words? or should one learn the specific psalm completely first, meanwhile praying a translation?

Is it appropriate to look at the translation as one prays it in Hebrew, going phrase by phrase?


RE: Reciting "Shema" (Deut. 6:4-9, etc.) - Director Michael - 10-28-2009

Joachim ben Noach Wrote:Director Michael in post 4:
"It is permitted for an observant Noahide to pray by reciting verses from the Hebrew Bible in Hebrew, IF he understands what he is saying.
Otherwise, his studying and reciting of verses should be from a translation in a language he understands, as published or provided by a reliable Orthodox Jewish translator."
___

So,
While learning psalms in Hebrew, may one pray them in Hebrew though one does not yet grasp the words? or should one learn the specific psalm completely first, meanwhile praying a translation?

Even an observant Noahide should pray in words that he/she understands, at least according to the traditional simple meaning of the words.

Joachim ben Noach Wrote:Is it appropriate to look at the translation as one prays it in Hebrew, going phrase by phrase?

That's OK, if you have in mind the meaning of the Hebrew words as you say them. If you are reading the Hebrew, you should be careful not to say the Tetragrammaton Name as it is spelled, but instead say one of the substitute names (for example, "HaShem").


RE: Reciting "Shema" (Deut. 6:4-9, etc.) - byronarn - 06-15-2010

I saw one Noahide group recommend replacing "Yisrael" with "Noach" in the Shema. Is this allowed, or could it be seen as misquoting Scripture?


RE: Reciting "Shema" (Deut. 6:4-9, etc.) - Director Michael - 06-16-2010

Since this verse (Deuteronomy 6:4) is the source verse for one of the unique Jewish commandments (Positive Commandment #2 in Rambam's work "Sefer Ha'Mitzvot"), the deliberate misquote you've mentioned seems to effectively be an attempt to add on a "new" (i.e. man-made) spiritual obligation for Noahides, which is not allowed.

See "The Divine Code," Vol. 1, Part 1, ch. 3 (The Prohibition Against Making a New Religion or Adding a Commandment), by Rabbi Moshe Weiner:
https://asknoah.org/books/the-divine-code

On the other hand, it is a worthy and meritorious practice for a Gentile to make a verbal statement of his/her acceptance of G-d's Unity and Kingship, which could be one or more times per day.

To this end, Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet has provided an exemplary statement that a Gentile can use for verbally accepting G-d’s Unity and Kingship, which includes correctly quoted verses from the Hebrew Scriptures. See the booklet* "Prayer, Blessings, Principles of Faith, and Divine Service for Noahides," by Rabbi Moshe Weiner and Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet, 6th Ed., pub. 20'14 Ask Noah International:

Almighty G-d, we accept upon ourselves that which is written in Your Torah: “You shall know this day and take to your heart that G-d [alone] is G-d, in the heavens above and on the earth below – there is none other!”[1] We affirm the precepts of “You shall love G-d, your G-d, with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your might;”[2] and “Fear G-d, your G-d, and serve Him, and in His Name [alone] shall you vow;”[3] and, as it says, “Fear G-d and keep His commandments, for that is a person’s entire duty.” [4]

[1] Deuteronomy 4:39.
[2] Ibid. 6:5.
[3] Ibid. 6:13.
[4] Ecclesiastes 12:13.


* https://asknoah.org/books/prayers-blessings-for-noahides