English: The Sages taught: “Hear, O Israel, Hashem is our God, Hashem is One” — this is the Shema of R’ Yehudah ha-Nasi.
On the daf / in context: When R’ Yehudah ha-Nasi was teaching and the time for Shema arrived, he would pause only for the first verse (the essential kabbalas ol malchus shamayim) and then resume his lesson, because for one whose Torah is his occupation the first verse suffices.
Type of Learning
Custom — identification of the minimal core of Keri’as Shema with the first verse alone for one whose Torah is his occupation.
What Is Learned
The essential acceptance of the yoke of Heaven is concentrated in the first verse; for one whose entire occupation is Torah, that verse alone can constitute the fulfillment.