“Shema is Shemen” Gather your Oil. From Torah Aromatherapy School Lesson 24“
Shema is Shemen” Gather your Oil. Written By Rivka Sari 2007
The word Shema means “to listen” but it has a much deeper meaning. It means “to gather”. When we say the Shema we need to have our mind heart and soul gathered together to recite this prayer with complete Kavanna and Kodesh Lishma (compassion, strength, and holy intent).
This why the Shema is wonderful when recited as a united community. This is true freedom to choose G-d’s perspective to give all and let go. Gather your mind, heart, and soul and give it all to G-d. When we say the first word Shema, say the word as long as it takes for you to gather all your thoughts (mind), your affections all your feelings (heart), and soul (your inner connection or inner strength).
How do we say G-d’s name?
We use words like Hashem or Adonai. Words like Hashem which means “the name” in Hebrew, The word shem (name) is also a shoresh (root) of the word “shemen” which means “Oil” in Hebrew. This means that Hashem is our Shemen, our Oil of Joy. Adonai means “my L-rd or my Master” in Hebrew. When we cannot say G-d’s name out loud we are just pointing to that which we cannot say or pronounce. The closest thing to speaking G-d’s name out loud is “Breathing” which only has a soft sound.
Reyach (to smell) breathe in through your nose and breathe out Ruach (wind, breath spirit). At creation, G-d’s name was spoken into our lungs with his breath of essence and the only way we say give gratitude is to say G-d’s name out loud, by breathing in breathing out, then breathe in again.
When we say one “Echad” meaning in Hebrew word for “one” we are clearly acknowledging G-d is One and the Only One. You are Someone. You are Some of that One.
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד׃
Hashem is our Oil of Joy, May you all have a Beautiful Sweet, and Joyful Shabbat
Oil of joy 
Simchas 
Ketoret-Temple Incense
