Shema Yisrael Project

August 18, 2009, 12:10 pm

The following is a message from the "Shema Yisrael Now" committee,
based in Chicago, regarding the 9th annual worldwide Shema Yisrael
 effort for Hoshana Rabba, scheduled for Thursday, October 8th at 9 p.m.

 The effort is coordinated by the Shema Yisrael Now committee, which
 seeks to raise awareness of the importance and protective power of
 the Shema Yisrael prayer.

 The holiday "Hoshana Rabba", which is the seventh and final night of
 the holiday of Succot, is a final chance to overturn difficult
 heavenly decrees that might have been written on Rosh Hashana. As
 such, Hoshana Rabba is marked by intense prayer and repentance.
 During these most difficult and volatile times we have the
 opportunity to help avert difficult heavenly decrees, please join
 with others to remove or soften the blow.

 With all that is happening in the world today, Hashem is giving us a
 wake up call, an opportunity to fix what has been damaged through our
 sins and repair the world through teshuva [repentance]. Each and
 everyone of us can make a difference. The Talmud states [Kiddushin
 40B] that the whole world as well as the individual , is judged by
 the majority of deeds. It only takes one person's one good deed to
 turn the judgment to the positive side for everyone. If each and
 every one of us would avoid the next sin that presents itself to them
 and actively seek out and do the next good deed, we could change the
 world for the better. The power of unity in doing a mitzvah is
 particularly effective in garnering merits. Let us join together on
 this significant date to state our firmest belief that He is the One
 and Only.

 This year, Hoshana Rabba falls out on Thursday evening, October 8th-
 9th.. On this day dedicated to prayer, there will be a special
 unified effort centering on our most basic and powerful prayer, and
 declaration of faith, the Shema Yisrael prayer.
 On Thursday, October 8th at 9 p.m., Jews in many communities will
 stop what they are doing and say the Shema prayer-- the Jewish basic
 declaration of faith, in unity with Jews around the globe.

>> The basic Shema prayer that many will recite on the Hoshana Rabba
>> night is comprised of six words:
>> *Shema Yis-ra-el A-do-noi E-lo-hei-nu A-d-noi E-chad*
>> Translation: Hear, Israel, Hashem is (now) our G-d, Hashem is the One
>> and Only.
>> This is followed by the whispered recital of the following six words:
>> *Ba-ruch Shem Kev-od Mal-chuso Le-Olam Va'ed*
>> Translation: Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom for all
>> eternity.
>> This refers to our silent aspiration that the entire world should
>> soon recognize Hashem's glory.
>> The Shema prayer is one of the 613 Commandments and our most basic,
>> powerful declaration of our faith in One G-D
>> When saying the Shema prayer, concentrate intensely upon accepting
>> G-D’s absolute sovereignty
>>
>>
>> All Jews are encouraged to join this special united effort by saying
>> the Shema prayer at 9 p.m. Thursday, October 8th, with their families
>> or whomever they are with at the time.
>>
>> We strongly encourage all Jewish people to say the Shema prayer every
>> morning and evening, every single day, as a way to unite the Jewish
>> people and help bring peace to our world.