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

[Director Michael]

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.