Episode 8: We are/will be One (Shema and Aleinu)

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We are/will be One

In the shema, we say g?d is one. Yet in the aleinu, we say on that day, g?d will be one. Which is true? Hear some thoughts from Eliana, breathe along with a short practice, and stay until the end for a gorgeous shema from the magical, mindful musician Chava Mirel.

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(0:35) Siddur – סידור – is a Jewish prayer book. 

(1:03) You can learn more about yud-hey-vav-hey here

(0:43) The Shema – שמע – comes from דברים – Deuteronomy 6:4 – 

שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה ׀ אֶחָֽד׃

Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad. 

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our G?d, the Lord is One. 

(1:49) Learn more about six word memoirs here.

Eliana also likes to say it’s a she-mantra 

And it’s also a haiku!  

(2:09) Learn more about Storahtelling and Lab/Shul here. 

(2:16) Hillel is a national organization that provides resources for Jewish life on college campuses. Learn more here. 

(2:31) Yisrael – ישראל – is not only a name for the Jewish people, but is the name that g?d gave to Jacob. Learn more here.

(2:57) Lihiyot – להיות – to be – shares the same root as יהיה – one of G?d’s names. 

(3:15) You can find The Power of Ritual by Casper Ter Kuile here. 

(4:00) You can find Echad: The Many Meanings of God is One, edited by Eugene B. Borowitz 

 here.

(5:51) You can find the full text of Aleinu here.  

(6:03) You can learn more about the background of Aleinu here.

(6:25) 

בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יְהֹוָה אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד:

Bayom hahoo yihiyeh Adonai echad ushemo echad. 

And on that day it will be that g?d is one and g?d’s name will be one. 

(8:42) Halacha – הלכה – Jewish law 

(10:15) Shabbat – שבת – is the Jewish day of rest. Learn more here. 

(10:39) You can find last week’s episode of The Light Lab Podcast here! 

(14:30) This beautiful rendition of Shema is by Chava Mirel. You can learn more about her here.