Shema: Mental Preparation
When saying the shema, focus on the idea that God is:
- Everywhere,
- Infinite,
- Unique,
- Present now and always.
Witness to God's Uniqueness
We are witnesses to the fact that God is unique, as alluded to in the word "eid"--made up of the "ayin" of shema and the "dalet" of echad.
Love God
We are required to love God with our:
- Hearts (Good Inclination--yetzer ha'tov--and Evil Inclination--yetzer ha'ra),
- Souls (regardless of whether we are happy with Hashem's decrees or not), and
- "Much-ness" (interpreted to mean with all of our material belongings).
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