Shema Yisroel for Leiby Kletsky
by Rabbi Anchelle Perl, Chabad Mineola NY
Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.
Shema Yisrael — "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One" — is perhaps the most famous of all Jewish prayers.
Throughout the ages, the cry of Shema has always symbolized the ultimate manifestation of faith in the gravest situations. With the Shema on their lips, Jews accepted martyrdom at the Inquisitor's stake and in the Nazi gas chambers.
The Shema is a declaration of faith, a pledge of allegiance to One God. It is said upon arising in the morning and upon going to sleep at night. It is said when praising God and when beseeching Him.
It is the first prayer that a Jewish child is taught to say. It is the last words a Jew says prior to death.
Shema Yisroel for Leiby Kletsky, obm
The sweet little Leiby Kletsky died alone. He didn’t have a chance to say the Shema. Let us gather our children, family & friends and together recite the Shema in the merit of Leiby of blessed memory. Conclude by each of us giving Tzedaka/charity.
When a Jew says Shema, it is customary to close and cover one's eyes. The other time in Jewish tradition that one's eyes are specifically closed is upon death.
We cover our eyes to show that we really don’t understand everything we see.
May we merit imminent arrival of Moshiach!