While most of our tefillos were enacted by the Rabbanan, reciting Shema twice daily is a rare chiyuv where the text itself is Di’oraysa, biblically mandated.
For this reason, when reading Shema, and especially its first pasuk, intention is particularly important. One who reads the first pasuk without kavvanah does not fulfill their obligation (Rambam, Kerias Shema 2:1).
What does the first line of Shema mean? We translate “Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad” as “Hear, O Israel, Hashem is our G-d, Hashem is one,” which is a good literal translation. But what is its broader significance, and what should we be thinking as we read the Shema?
One might offer three interpretations of this line, which are not mutually exclusive, and each can be tied to a Rishon:
Rashbam (on Devarim 6:4): Hashem alone is our G-d, and we must worship only Hashem.
Rashi (on Devarim 6:4): While today only Jews properly recognize Hashem – Hashem Elokeinu – one day the whole world will recognize Hashem – Hashem Echad.
Rambam (Yesodei haTorah 1:7): We should focus philosophically on Hashem’s radical oneness, that Hashem is one being and is non-physical, and thus cannot be broken down into parts but remains forever singular and perfect.
These three approaches allow a focus on Hashem Elokeinu (Rashbam), Hashem Echad (Rambam), and the transition from one to the other (Rashi), as we accept upon ourselves Ol Malchus Shamayim, Hashem’s dominion over the world.
