Va’eschanan 6:4 · unit 2

TT #20 · Parashas Va’eschanan · Passuk 6:4

The Complete Passuk

שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ אֶחָֽד׃

Hear, O Israel: Hashem is our God, Hashem is One.

Chabad.org — 6:4

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Berachos 13a (Keri’as Shema may be recited in any language).

Sefaria — Berachos 13a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע נֶאֱמֶרֶת בְּכָל לָשׁוֹן, דִּכְתִיב שְׁמַע — בְּכָל לָשׁוֹן שֶׁאַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ.

English: The Sages taught: Keri’as Shema may be recited in any language, as it is written “Shema” — in any language that you hear (i.e., understand).

On the daf / in context: The word “Shema” is taken to imply comprehension; therefore the declaration is valid in the vernacular of the one who recites it (when he does not understand the Hebrew).

Type of Learning

Diyuk — “Shema” read as requiring understanding / permitting any language one understands.

What Is Learned

One may recite the Shema in any language one understands; the essential requirement is that the words be heard and grasped.