The Shema reverberates in our Creation and is accessible now… we say it in the evening and morning, just as the Karban Tamid was brought in evening and morning, and just as there is day and night.
We can find a correlation between “Shema”, and victory. Hashem goes to battle against our enemies for us. [1]ה’ אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה יְהוָה שְׁמוֹ after there is a Shema by the Exodus from Mitzrayim. In this case Hashem actually is described as the listener to us. We daven to him and he listens to His nation cries[2], וְאֶת־צַעֲקָתָם שָׁמַעְתִּי. This triggers Hashem’s Salvation and Krias Yam Suf[3]. The Kli Yakar describes the [4]וְאֶת־צַעֲקָתָם שָׁמַעְתִּי, as Tefillah that was directed to Hashem with a whole heart.
The Kli Yakar also describes an important phenomenon that occurred when we cried out in Tefillah with a whole heart. He says this resulted in an immediate response before they even finished saying the words. He heard. עתה תיכף, כי כך דרכי שעוד הם מדברים ואני אשמע . This is something that is important to note when davening with our whole heart.
We also see that the same Shema is not finite. It has ripple effects. What began as Hashem listening to our tefillah resulting in our salvation from Mitzrayim triggers even more listening, and victory resulting in opening the ears of Yisro, וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ [5]. Yisro effects of all Klal Yisroel, and directs Moshe to listen to his voice; עַתָּה שְׁמַע בְּקֹלִי אִיעָצְךָ, Now listen to me. I will give you counsel[6]. This results in Moshe Listening to him, וַיִּשְׁמַע מֹשֶׁה לְקוֹל חֹתְנוֹ.[7] and then appointed אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל מִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, with the intention to help guide Klal Yisrael in dealing with their internal battles so that they choose good.
We are then given directions of war , of the Milchemes Mitzvah category.
[8]וְאָמַר אֲלֵהֶם שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתֶּם קְרֵבִים הַיּוֹם לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶם אַל־יֵרַךְ לְבַבְכֶם אַל־תִּירְאוּ וְאַל־תַּחְפְּזוּ וְאַל־תַּעַרְצוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם
He (the Kohen) shall say to them, “Hear, Yisrael! You are approaching a battle with your enemy. Let not your courage falter. Do not be in fear, or in panic, or in dread of them.
Chazal teach us that through this mitzvah of שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל Hashem promises to help and lead us victoriously against our enemies.[9]
May we all be Zoche to hear the sounds of the שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל and may we all hear the voice of victory blown in the Shofar of our redemption, Without delay as described by the Kli Yakar. [10]
[1] שמות ט״ו:ג
[2] וַיֹּאמֶר ה’ רָאֹה רָאִיתִי אֶת־עֳנִי עַמִּי אֲשֶׁר בְּמִצְרָיִם וְאֶת־צַעֲקָתָם שָׁמַעְתִּי מִפְּנֵי נֹגְשָׂיו כִּי יָדַעְתִּי אֶת־מַכְאֹבָיו, Shemos, 3:7
[3] וַיּוֹשַׁע ה’ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּד מִצְרָיִם וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־מִצְרַיִם מֵת עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם
[4] אבל עתה צעקת בני ישראל באה אלי כי התפללו אלי בלב שלם על כן ראיתי תפלתם (Kli Yakar, Shemos, 3:7)
[5] What was the particular report which he heard so that he came? — The division of the Red Sea and the war with Amalek (Rashi, Sh’mos, 18:1)
[6] Shemos, 18:19
[7] Shemos, 18:24
[8] Devarim, 20:3
[9] בזכות שמע ישראל שהוא פרשת היחוד אתם נוצחין
[10] עתה תיכף, כי כך דרכי שעוד הם מדברים ואני אשמע
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