How important is the shema?

Answer 1

The Shema (pronounced: schma), or the prayer that some Jewish families place outside of their homes/doorways in boxes called mezuzah, has greater cultural and interpretive implications than literal implications. This short prayer, translated roughly into English: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is your God, the Lord alone" (alternately "the Lord is one"), is the main calling card for Jewish faith, briefly stating the one ideal that differentiated Jewish Tradition from the other religions of ancient times. The monotheistic message of this message carried strong significance for Jews, especially at and before the time of Jesus, during the time when the political scene of Palestine was dominated by polytheistic religions, and Jews needed a way to unify outside of these traditions. While the modern significance of the Shema is not as important as it was in ancient times, it remains an important part of Jewish culture as a result of its past significance.