Krias Shema is Emunah — Sources and Explanation

The phrase "Krias Shema is Emunah" (קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע הִיא בְּחִינַת אֱמוּנָה) appears explicitly in the Chassidic work Likutei Halakhot by Rav Nosson of Breslov, where he connects the recitation of Shema directly to the concept of faith. This idea is rooted in the very words of the Shema itself, which declare God's unity and kingship — the foundational act of Jewish emunah (faith).

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Key Takeaways

• Rav Nosson of Breslov explicitly states that Krias Shema is an expression of emunah (faith) in Likutei Halakhot.
• The Shema is the primary declaration of God's Oneness — accepting His kingship is itself the act of faith.
• The Mishnah teaches that Shema is recited first specifically to accept ol malkhut shamayim (the yoke of Heaven) — before all other commandments.
• Emunah and Krias Shema are linked because faith must precede all religious practice.
• This idea echoes the verse in Habakkuk: "the righteous shall live by his faith."

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The Direct Source: Likutei Halakhot

Rav Nosson of Breslov writes in [Likutei Halakhot, Orach Chaim, Laws of Reciting Shema 4:6:1]:

"וְכָל זֶה זוֹכִין עַל-יְדֵי אֱמוּנָה שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע"

"And all of this is merited through emunah, which is the aspect of Krias Shema"

This is the direct source for the phrase. Rav Nosson is teaching that:

• Krias Shema embodies emunah
• Through emunah, one merits to have even curses transformed into blessings (he connects this to the story of Bilaam)
• The light from Above is drawn down specifically through this faith-declaration

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What Does Emunah Mean in This Context?

Emunah (אֱמוּנָה) is often translated as "faith" or "belief," but in Jewish thought it means something deeper — an internalized, lived conviction in God's presence and unity.

The Shema accomplishes this on two levels:

1. Cognitive Acceptance — Kabbalat Ol Malkhut Shamayim

The Mishnah in Berakhot [Mishnah Berakhot 2:2] teaches:

"לָמָּה קָדְמָה שְׁמַע לִוְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ... כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּקַבֵּל עָלָיו עֹל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם תְּחִלָּה"

"Why does Shema precede V'haya Im Shamo'a? So that one first accepts upon himself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, and only afterward accepts the yoke of the commandments."

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korcha teaches that Shema comes first because emunah — accepting God's kingship — is the foundation upon which all mitzvot rest.

2. The Declaration Itself

The words of Shema [Deuteronomy 6:4]:

"שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֶחָֽד"

"Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One."

Every word is an act of emunah:

• שְׁמַע (Shema — "Hear") — an internal listening, not just external recitation
• יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ — God is our God, a personal relationship of faith
• יְהֹוָה אֶחָד — His Oneness — the core declaration of monotheistic faith

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Connection to Tzaddik Ba'emunato Yichyeh

Rav Nosson connects this to the verse in [Habakkuk 2:4]:

"וְצַדִּ֖יק בֶּאֱמוּנָת֥וֹ יִֽחְיֶֽה"

"And the righteous shall live by his emunah (faith)."

The Talmud in Makkot [Makkot 24a] cites this verse as the single principle upon which all 613 commandments ultimately rest. Krias Shema, as the daily act of emunah, is therefore the living expression of this foundational verse.

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The Breslov Depth: Shema as Spiritual Repair

In Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's broader teaching (which Rav Nosson expands upon), emunah is not passive — it is an active force that:

• Transforms darkness into light
• Turns curses into blessings (as with Bilaam)
• Draws down divine ohr (light) from above

Rav Nosson teaches [Likutei Halakhot, ibid.] that Bilaam tried to use divine light for a curse, but God transformed it into blessing — and this power of transformation is accessed specifically through emunah, which finds its daily expression in Krias Shema.

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Summary of the Phrase

| Concept | Meaning | |---|---| | Krias Shema | The twice-daily recitation of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and related passages | | Emunah | Living, internalized faith in God's unity and presence | | Their connection | Shema is the act of emunah — declaring and internalizing God's Oneness | | Source | Likutei Halakhot, Rav Nosson of Breslov, Laws of Shema 4:6:1 |

Bottom line: Every time a Jew says Shema, they are not merely reciting words — they are performing the fundamental act of emunah, reconnecting to the bedrock of Jewish faith.