The First Time in Midrash
כט וַיֶּאְסֹר יוֹסֵף מֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ וַיַּעַל לִקְרַאת יִשְׂרָאֵל אָבִיו גּשְׁנָה וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו וַיִּפֹּל עַל צַוָּארָיו וַיֵּבְךְּ עַל צַוָּארָיו עוֹד:
- How do you think Yaakov felt at this moment?
ויבך על צואריו עוד: לשון הרבות בכיה ...והוסיף בבכי יותר על הרגיל
אבל יעקב לא נפל על צוארי יוסף ולא נשקו,
ואמרו רבותינו שהיה קורא את שמע:
2. Why do you think the Rabbi’s say he he said Shema?!
i am in that situation every day actually. i love to daven and say shema for different things that happen in my day, good or bad. i usually like to say it when i think of my uncle because i want to thank him for everything he did/does for me and for him watching over me and protecting me everyday. Also when I'm having a and day, I'm thanking hashem more at night when I'm saying shema. Because even if we have a bad day, we should still thank hashem for everything he does for us and he does everything for a reason and has a plan so we should just accept and say thank you and for the other great things we have in our lives.
ReplyDeleteThis situation happens every day because we say Shema twice, in the morning and at night. But mostly we say this in a dangerous situation or just thanking of God for everything he's done for us. In my situation, happen like this. Last year I was in gym and we were running and you had to see how much you can run back-and-forth while you hear a beep. I ran 72 laps back-and-forth. I knew I could've done more but I just couldn't my legs felt like they were not on my body anymore and I couldn't stand and I was so dizzy. My friend saw I was having difficulty coming back so they help me up. But the gym teacher put me on a chair and asked me what was wrong and then she figured out that I was shaking. Called the nurse and she gave me cookies and juice boxes just to make sure my sugar was on the right level. But when she asked me to stand up I couldn't so I was in a wheelchair pushed to the nurses room. The nurse called my parents and also called the ambulance. I was freaking out I have never been in an ambulance before and I never wanted to be but that's what happened. I was in the hospital and my parents went to the wrong hospital but they came to the right one. Dr. came give me all tests and shots. But I knew I had a soccer game that night. So I decide to do the best thing for my team. I started saying Shema and told my mom I loved her and I want to sleep. Four hours later I see on my Snapchat that our team one. I told my mom you see this is this what happens when you care about your team you want them to do well and you're in a bad situation you can be there for them but at least you can be them by saying a prayer for them. I was in the hospital for two days but then I came home. That night when I found you got into my own bed I talk to myself and said Shema and forgot helping me out doing my situation. I love God and I will away and I would always think of him through my life. Even though this was turned into a bad situation thinking too good situation helps when you see Shema and life changes.
ReplyDeleteI try to think of a time every day. I try to think of a time when I want to thank hashem. One of the main times that I wanted to thank hashem in my life was when my older sister got married. I had never seen her happier in my life and that made me just as happy. Additionally, when I was in Israel for the first time. It was a very last minute thing and I am grateful for it every day. When I try to think of a time in my everyday life, it's pretty easy as well. Walking, talking being healthy and privileged to go to such a great school and to have such an easy life
ReplyDeleteYes a lot of times when things happen we need to understand gods greatness. When something good happens we automatically think that it just happened because it did but the reason it happend was because of Hashem whenever I say shema I always try to thank hashem for everything he does
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother used to pray almost everyday. She was a person who loved god so much. As a child growing up, she was not observant and when she got married and had her children and moved to America she then decided to become observant. As a child, she used to teach me how to love god. She would always say shema and when she did, you knew that she loved to. She always saw god as this amazing being who did all these wonders and therefore she said shema.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many times we want to shout out loud about Hashem's greatness. It is easy to praise Hashem when amazing things happen to us. But to be able to still have the same feeling of love and devotion when we are going through a difficult time in our lives is hard. If we remember to really praise Hashem by saying Hashem is our god etc. we can be comforted doing the tough times as well as really thank Hashem for the good times.
ReplyDeleteI remember when Jonathan Pollard was freed from jail. Even though he went through such tough times, many Jews say Hashem's greatness and that there was a plan. So many people yelled out the Shema when they heard the news that he was freed. They never lost faith when he was in jail and were even more excited when Mr. Pollard was freed!
Pnina Lerman
When someone has a near death experience like in a car crash for example, and you come out of that car crash fine you want to praise God
ReplyDeletebecause you lived you so you thank
hashem for letting you live.but people should thank God everyday because he does little things for us everyday and we should praise hashem because of that.
Amy Dyckman
If one is in danger one can say shema to make them feel more comfortable and to realize HaShem is right by there side. If one feels like they are in danger they can recite this prayer to realize they are in great hands. One should always realize HaShem is right there always and forever. All in all, one should say shema if they are in an uncomfortable situation
ReplyDelete-Raquel Fusman
I think of Shema as more of a cry out to God for help. For example I have said it when I felt I was in a place of danger. An example would be if someone was getting God forbid kidnapped they would recite Shema.
ReplyDeleteI like to say Shema at night and reflect on my day. I do acknowledge Hashem's greatness and what Hashem has done for me throughout the day. I like to thank Hashem for everything "HE" has done. Saying Shema makes me feel closer to Hashem. I acknowledge Hashem for everything "HE" has done. I see shema as a time to catch up on the days events and to just talk to Hashem. I feel that a lot of emotion goes into saying Shema. It feels very personal when I say it to Hashsm. It really makes me feel like Hashem is there for me no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI like to say Shema at night and reflect on my day. I do acknowledge Hashem's greatness and what Hashem has done for me throughout the day. I like to thank Hashem for everything "HE" has done. Saying Shema makes me feel closer to Hashem. I acknowledge Hashem for everything "HE" has done. I see shema as a time to catch up on the days events and to just talk to Hashem. I feel that a lot of emotion goes into saying Shema. It feels very personal when I say it to Hashsm. It really makes me feel like Hashem is there for me no matter what.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to the Kotel for the first time I was just so grateful. I wanted to thank God for everything. I was in the holiest spot. I have never felt so close to God before. He has given me so many blessings.
ReplyDelete