Shema

416. Positive Law – Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Israel! The L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd alone
This command differs from Ex. 20:2 in that Exodus requires one to believe in Hashem, but here we are required to believe in His oneness or absolute dominion.
It is a command to read or pray the Shema proclaiming His oneness twice each day in 6:7. This was the ancient prayer that Y’Shua and every other serious Jew prayed daily and was actually the confession of their faith often used by martyrs.
417. Positive – Deut. 6:5 You must love the L-rd your G-d
It is believed by ancient Jews that one can only love Hashem in proportion to the measure of knowledge one has of Him. Because of this study was considered one of the highest forms of worship. Even the Christian writings tell us to study to show ourselves approved unto G-d in 2 Tim. 2:15. One of the main ways to get to know Him in Hebrew Scripture is to follow His name (Ps. 124:8) where it declares our help is in the name of the L-rd.
418. Positive – Deut. 6:7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children
It is a command for every person to be familiar with the Laws of the Torah. In Judaism this is applied by everyone having a specific time each day to study Torah. Traditionally Jews believe that in this command is the obligation of every father to teach his children.
In the Mishnah 5:21 it gives the rules of how ancient Jews were instructed including when they started with the Torah. We are told that the children were taught:
First from the book of Leviticus for ritual purity and how to approach G-d by sacrifice and offering.
Then the book of Psalms to understand the nature of G-d before going on to other things.
Possibly this is what Y’Shua meant when He referred to people coming to Him as a child in Matt. 18:2-4 ‘in child like purity.’
At the age of 1o one was fit for the study of the words of the Oral Law. Some Scholars believe it was the Oral Law that the ancient children were questioned about on the steps of the Temple, as in the case of Y’Shua in Luke 2.
At the age of 13 one was old enough to fulfill the commandments and be numbered with the believers of Israel.
At the age of 15 one was ready to study the Sages
At the age of 18 for marriage
At the age of 20 for pursuing a vocation. Y’Shua is called both son of Joseph the carpenter and Y’Shua the carpenter in the book of Mark. Obviously Joseph had followed this pattern and that his son his vocation.
At the age of 30 one entered into the full vigor of his ministry as we see Y’Shua doing in the gospels.
At the age of 40 one was old enough to have attained knowledge
At the age of 50 one was fit to become a counselor as in the case of the older teaching the younger.
419. Positive – Deut. 6:7 recite them when you lie down and when you get up
This was carried out by reciting the Shema in the morning upon rising and in the evening before going to be. This was the declaration of one’s faith.
The ancient Jews, as well as modern serious believers, believe this was a most serious thing and to avoid hindrances often cover their eyes with the right hand to avoid disturbances while quoting the Shema. Traditionally it is believed that Hashem has promised that if you will guard what is Mine (to read the Shema properly and believe it), I will guard what is yours referring to one’s organs and body
420. Positive – Deut. 6:8 bind them as a sign on your arm
This is a command to wear the Tehillim (phylacteries).
421. Positive – Deut. 6:8 and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead
Frontlet, between your eyes, both the Tehillim on the arm and head contains four Scriptures: Ex. 13:1-10; Ex. 13:11-16; Deut. 6:4-9 and Deut. 11”13-21.
On the Tehillim on the head, the letter shin appears on the two sides. One shin has three heads and the other has four heads, which total seven. The numerical value of he two shins combined (shin = 333, shine = 300) equal 600. when placing one shin next to the other the Hebrew word means six appears. If you add these three figures (7 + 600 + 6 you will have 613) the total number of Laws given to us in the Torah.
Great stress is laid upon not just mechanically observing these commands.
422. Positive – Deut. 6:9 inscribe them on the door posts of your house and on your gates
This is the command to affix a mezuzah to each doorpost of a Jewish house. This consists of two texts Deut. 6:409; and Deut. 11:13-21.
There are several traditional rules that have been kept for centuries concerning the mezuzah including the fact that it should be placed at an angle diagonally with the top line containing the first word, Shema towards the house, and the last line towards the outside.
Temporary dwellings, such as a Sukah, do not require a mezuzah. The mezuzah of a private dwelling should be examined twice every seven years and a public building only twice in 50 years. If the mezuzah is damaged, it should be buried.