g-d is beyond any words... and there is no defining constructs to understanding his language... but we try anyway and listen. "Jewish belief that our world, and everything inside of it, is created from G‑d's speech at every given moment. " do we really think we can own g-d's words? perhaps we listen when we know we can never really fully understand
.jpg)
Reciting the Shema is more than just saying words. It's meant to be heard, as well as said. That's the meaning of the word, "Shema"--meaning, "Listen and take this seriously." In order to do that, we don't want to be distracted by anything around us. Closing our eyes enhances our concentration. (Code of Jewish Law, O.C. 61:5)
The Talmud (Berachot 13b) traces this practice to the great Rabbi Judah the Prince. While teaching Torah, he would often interrupt his lesson to recite the Shema, and his students would observe him passing his hand over his eyes at the moment that he said the verse.
The deeper answer: The meaning of the Shema goes way beyond the belief in only one G‑d. "G-d is One" declares that there is no existence outside of G‑d.
שמע ישראל
