•

1
-

PED, G

wish famili

Saying A Sweet Shema

•

*X0,:swr

Making the Shema a part of your family's bedtime ritual.

of your house and
on your gates" (also the
AppleTree Editor
source for tefillin and
mezuzot).
rowing up in the Barth
3) Here, Jews are reminded to
home, bedtime always
perform
God's mitzvot, or command-
involved a lot of walking,
ments.
When
they do so, they will
then kissing.
help
to
form
a
"holy nation."
David and Adina Barth, members
We
know
the
source for the Shema,
of Young Israel of Greenfield (now
which
takes
its
name
from the first
Oak Park), would have their tiny girls
6:4 and means
Deuteronomy
word
in
kiss the mezuzah outside their bed-
"Hear."
The
first
section
is from
room door, then say the Shema and
6:4-9;
the
second
Deuteronomy
affix a sticker to their mitzvah chart
appears in Deuteronomy11:13 21; the
(one sticker per mitzvah, including
final part of the Shema is taken from
recitation of the Shema).
Three
Parts
Numbers 15:37-41. While some
Then the girls got older "and they
ascribe the selection of these verses to
Most
people
are
familiar
with
the
would go around and kiss every
Moshe (Moses), no one knows for
mezuzah in the house," Adina Barth
certain exactly who chose the words
says. "I carried one [girl], David car-
of the Shema to be a central part of
ried one — and we have three so I
the synagogue service, or precisely
don't remember exactly how we did
when they were made part of it.
it.
It is clear, however, that their
Today, Rivka Barth is 18, sister
inclusion in the service is ancient.
Shani is 16 and sister Miriam is 13.
The Mishnah recounts that the
It has been a few years since they
Shema, along with the Ten
were carried around the house. But
Commandments, was read as
the memories of those goodnights are
part of the worship service
still sweet for the Barths, and they
in the Beit HaMikdash
still talk about what it was like when
(Holy Temple).
they used to kiss all the mezuzot,
Hillel and
then say the Shema together.
Shammai discussed
Gail Greenberg, a member of
the Shema at
Congregation Shir Tikvah, plays a
length, spending
"roses and thorns" game with her
much time in
daughter before bed. "She shares her
debate over the
`thorn' for the day (something sad or
prayer's words
bad that occurred) and we talk about
"when you lie
a way to make it better for tomor-
down and
row," says Gail. "She then shares her
when you
`rose' for the day — something beau-
rise up."
tiful and special that happened.
On this
'After the game, she says the
they
Shema and goes to bed. Sometimes,
agreed:
she asks me about my rose and thorn
"when
you
lie
down"
means
that one
for the day; it just depends on her
should
recite
the
Shema
before
going
mood. (Now that she's 10, the moods
to
bed
(any
time
from
nightfall
until
"Hear 0 Israel," portion of this
change often.)"
dawn,
preferably
before
midnight)
prayer, but in fact the Shema com-
Greenberg recommends expanding
and "when you rise up" calls for
prises three sections:
the roses and thorns concept to
recitation before the first one-third of
The
prayer
begins
with
a
state-
1)
include the Shema. "The Shema is
the day has passed (for Halachic pur-
ment
of
God's
unity
and
commands
like the rose; it is a gift we give our-
poses, the day is divided into relative
Jews
to
"love
the
Lord
with
all
your
selves each day as a way to connect to
hours. To calculate the number of rel-
heart and with all your soul and with
God and a gift we give to God in
ative hours in a day, determine the
all your might."
recalling God's commandments," she
time of sunset and sunrise. Divide
The
second
part
of
the
Shema
2)
says.
that period by 12. Then divide that
directs
Jews
to
"bind
them
[God's
Barbara Haddad, 'a member of Bais
figure into thirds. The first third is
words]
as
a
sign
on
your
hand
and
let
Chabad of West Bloomfield, has a
the deadline for saying Shema). This
them
serve
as
a
symbol
on
your
fore-
son Moshe, 10, who sings the Shema
is why the Shema is said twice daily.
head;
inscribe
them
on
the
doorposts
to himself. Her younger son, Noam,

ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM

G

4, also likes to take a moment before
going to sleep — but, for reasons his
family doesn't quite understand, he
prefers to sing the Birkat HaMazon
(the blessing said after eating bread).
The Barths, the Haddads and the
Greenbergs are among many families
who incorporate Jewish ritual into
one of the most important aspects of
the day — bedtime. For most, that
ritual includes saying the quintessen-
tial affirmation of Jewish faith in one
God, the Shema.

. But according to Shammai, one
should actually "lie down" — recline
— while saying the Shema in the
evening, and stand up while reciting
it in the morning. Hillel disagreed,
and it is, of course, his opinion that
we follow.
Morning and evening recitations of
the Shema are basically the same,
though each includes particular bene-
dictions. Both end on an optimistic
note, remembering God's promise to
be the guardian of Israel who will
continue to protect His people.
Many Jewish families also say
Shema before going to bed. This fol-
lows the statement, by Rabbi Joshua
ben Levi, in the Talmud, "Though a
man has recited the Shema in the
synagogue, it is meritorious to recite
it again on his bed," which he based
on Psalms 4:5: "Tremble and sin not;
commune with your own heart upon
your bed and be still." (Some assert
that saying the Shema at bedtime
keeps away nighttime demons; this
has absolutely nothing to do with
Judaism.)
There are rules about exactly how
one should say the Shema: with deep
concentration (which is why some
cover their eyes), in awe and fear,
with clear enunciation and loud
enough to actually be heard. One
should recite the Shema only in a
respectable place (not the bathroom,
for example), and do so without
interruption.

Some Suggestions

Whether you're looking to incorpo-
rate new ideas into your already
established bedtime routine, or want
to start some new traditions, here are
a few ideas to consider when making
your bedtime a very Jewish experi-
ence:
• Circulate a blank tape among
family members and ask each to sing
a favorite Jewish song (one may want
to sing one of the many popular ver-
sions of the Shema) or tell a favorite
SWEET SHEMA on page 34

2/20

2004

33