Cindy, the "Shema" prayer (from the word "hear") is said twice a day, every day (by practicing orthodox Jews, that is). Once in the morning prayer, once in the evening prayer (in a usual day, there are 3 prayers. More in holidays and special dates. Oh, and women usually pray only once a day, usually only the morning prayer - that's what I do, as well). The texts for the prayers are in prayer books, and you pretty much don't deviate from them.
The verse of "Shema", and several more verses from the "torah" (one about the acceptance of the belief in G-d, one about the acceptance of G-d's orders, and one about remembering the exodus through one specific order) are combined together in both the morning and the evening prayers under the name "kriat shema" (the reading/saying of "shema"). But that first phrase pretty much heads the whole thing, and it's its heart, in a way.
There are spans of times in which every prayer can be said - the morning one, between the sun rise and mid-day; the afternoon one, since a bit after the middle of the day and until the sun sets; and the evening one, after the sun sets and through most of the night. So there are times in which saying the "shema" verse is more special than "merely" reading verses from the bible, being part of the prayer, said on its time. So, yeah, 9pm could definitely be the time for the evening prayer. During the summer, it may be started a bit earlier than that, but not by much (around 8:15, I'd say, this week, give or take - it changes according to the timing of the setting of the sun).
Then there is the "shema on bed", which is being said right before going to sleep, and, again, contains those paragraphs. It's definitely one of the first - if not really the first - prayers a child learns to say. But it goes beyond that. It's the declaration of belief in G-d and accepting all that comes along with it. People try to pronounce it when they are very scared or in trouble or trying to pray and don't know the words. People say it on their deathbeds (there are chilling and heartbreaking stories about that).
The thing I think the link refers to is the very difficult political situation in Israel in the past months, and in the few weeks to come. Without entering any political discussion right now, people are heartbroken. Is there anything else I can help you with?
In case you answer after I leave, could you please e-mail me, if there's anything else my not-world-saving Hebrew can do for you?
[Edit:
I would like to be able to pray it in Hebrew.
Which parts? There are the first two short verses, and then 3 longer paragraphs.]
The thing I think the link refers to is the very difficult political situation in Israel in the past months, and in the few weeks to come. Without entering any political discussion right now, people are heartbroken. Is there anything else I can help you with?
Okay. I understand. I couldn't tell from the first link if this was a special event Shema. Now that I've clicked the link at the link, I have the smallest of ideas about the political situation. I didn't realize there was a political connection to that particular link, when I asked. I was thinking in more strictly religious terms. Thank you for all the information.
In case you answer after I leave, could you please e-mail me, if there's anything else my not-world-saving Hebrew can do for you?
Yes, sweetie. Sleep tight.
Speaking of Global Frequency (weren't we), who, having watched the show or read the comic felt that the Frequency was something any of us could be a part of? John has said as much in interview, but I thought it was an elite panel of specialists, and as unattainable as being Jack Bauer or a Bristow.
Hrm. Well, I think both are sorta true. Not everyone is an expert at something, but expertise is something achievable; it's not an superpower. They certainly are an elite group, but they're not an elite group of fantastic action heroes; they're hackers and linguists and magicians and engineers. It's a meritocracy, basically.
I'm an elitist, does that count?
I'm an elitist, does that count?
You'd be the first person I'd call if saving the world required an expert in reaming out people.
But a meritocracy hardly rules out Bauer or Bristow, and John explicitly makes that distinction.
I suppose it would help if I read the original comment. I probably saw it and don't remember -- do you have a link?
Maybe it depends on what you mean by unattainable. I took that as, they are very much action heroes, and while there is a pretense that they're jus' plain folks, they're only "normal" compared to, I dunno, James Bond or Bruce Wayne. Each of them could individually do the work of a team of people in GF. I do not think I could ever be as capable as they are at all things they can do. But I could conceivably become an expert at something.
Like, if GF needed someone to drive a car, they might get some NASCAR guy to do it. It's not a skill I have, but it is an achievable skill. Bauer or Bristow would drive themselves, while working out their personal problems over a cell phone, and defusing a bomb with one hand, and get there faster.
There is a 1001 people on the frequency, spread throughout the world, with every conceivable skill set and knowledge. While primary agents tend to be on the Bauer/Bristow level, any given mission can have dozens of additional GF watching via cell and laptops, being managed by Aleph. Also, if you are the only person on the Frequency when something blows up nearby, you get called, even if you are not usually in the field.
Hmmm, interesting, TV guide for today does have it correctly listed as no Inside episode on Fox, but for Global(Canadian channel that airs the Inside) still shows a new episode coming on tonight.
Edit: nope, got Fear Factor.
