Shema

[ shuh-mah, shmah ]
/ ʃəˈmɑ, ʃmɑ /

noun Judaism.

a liturgical prayer, prominent in Jewish history and tradition, that is recited daily at the morning and evening services and expresses the Jewish people's ardent faith in and love of God.

Origin of Shema

From the Hebrew word shəmaʿ listen!

Example sentences from the Web for shema

British Dictionary definitions for shema

Shema
/ (ʃəˈmɑː) /

noun

the central statement of Jewish belief, the sentence "Hear, O Israel: the Lord is your God; the Lord is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4)
the section of the liturgy consisting of this and related biblical passages, Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21 and Numbers 15:37–41, recited in the morning and evening prayers and on retiring at night

Word Origin for Shema

Hebrew, literally: hear