By Rabbi Dovid Sapirman, Dean, Ani Maamin Foundation
The Torah commands us to say the Shema twice a day, and so we recite it 730 times a year in davening. It is the first pasuk we teach our children when they begin to speak, and the last words that a dying person says as he leaves the world. Martyrs throughout Jewish history were killed al kiddush Hashem with these words on their lips. It is our way of declaring our loyalty to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
In numerous tefillos, we ask Hashem to show us favor in the merit of our reciting Shema—“Guardian of Yisrael, preserve what remains of Yisrael, and let Yisrael not perish, [those] who say Shema Yisrael. Guardian of the unique nation, preserve the remnant of the unique nation, and let not the nation that declares ‘Hashem Echad’ perish.” “From His place may He turn in mercy, and favor the nation that declares His name One, twice every day with love, saying Shema.”
As the only nation that declares to the world the unity of Hashem, our mission has not been easy. When we say the words “bechol nafshecha,” we are supposed to imagine ourselves given the choice to transgress the Torah or be killed. There you stand, tied to the stake, the executioner about to light the fire at your feet. He offers you one last chance to give up your religion and live. “Light the fire!” you say.
We have had many role models in this respect. When the Chofetz Chaim was very old, he was too weak to leave his home, even to the yeshivah next door. A minyan davened regularly in his house. Since a person is supposed to hear himself say the words of davening, and the Chofetz Chaim could not hear well, he said the words of Shemone Esrei quite loudly. Minyan members heard him say repeatedly, “Please take my life al kiddush Hashem!” When we resolve that we would give our lives al kiddush Hashem if necessary, we are credited with the mitzvah as if we actually had.
In Maseches Brachos, we learn the story of Rabbi Akiva’s martyrdom. The Roman governor of Yehuda had his flesh scraped with iron combs, and all the while Rabbi Akiva recited the Shema. His talmidim looked on in astonishment: “Rabbeinu—even now?”
“All my life,” Rabbi Akiva answered, “I was concerned about fulfilling the pasuk of bechol nafshecha, to give my life al kiddush Hashem. At last I have an opportunity!”
After 3,000 years, we still hold on tight to this precious pledge of loyalty.
