Marla Letizia

The prayer that we call "V'ahavta" is actually the continuation of the Sh'ma. Traditionally, the Sh'ma consists of three biblical passages from the Torah.

The first passage (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) is the first paragraph above; it states the obligation to love God and to live with the words of the Sh'ma close to you in everything you do.

The second passage (Deuteronomy 11:13-21) is not included in the prayerbook of the Reform Movement; it describes God's reward for obeying the commandments and the punishment for disobeying.

The third passage (Numbers 15:37-41) begins with the commandment to wear tzitzit, the fringes on the corner of the tallit (not included in our prayerbook) and ends with "L'maan tizk'ru…," the section that states the obligation to remember and do all of God's commandments. 

​Traditionally, the Sh'ma is recited twice each day, in the morning and evening worship services. This reflects the commandment within the passage to recite the words "when you lie down and when you rise up."

The passage also includes the commandment to put a mezuzah on the doors of our homes ("…inscribe them on the doorposts of your house…").