ADAPTED FROM HIS AUDIO SHIURIM ON EIN YAAKOV LESSON 117B – SANHEDRIN 58 AND EIN YAAKOV LESSON 127B – SANHEDRIN 93

Sudden Fright and Kriyas Shema

The Gemara says that each person has a guardian angel in Heaven—his mazal, or spiritual “luck.” This mazal represents a kind of heavenly subconscious that perceives things beyond our physical awareness. At times, a person may suddenly be overcome with fear or anxiety without any apparent reason. Physically, nothing seems wrong, yet he feels a surge of fright. The reason, the Gemara explains, is that his mazal has seen something—his spiritual subconscious detected a danger or disturbance, even though his conscious mind did not. The fear originates from this invisible perception. What if the person truly became frightened over something his mazal perceived? What should he do to allay that fear? The Gemara’s answer is clear: the best takanah (spiritual remedy) is to recite Kriyas Shema. Today, we rarely respond this way. If something frightening occurs, we don’t instinctively say Kriyas Shema. However, I noticed something beautiful when I became closer to the Syrian Jewish community. Whenever we were driving and narrowly avoided an accident, someone in the car would immediately say “Shema Yisrael.” They were ready with Kriyas Shema at a moment’s notice, fulfilling the Gemara’s advice instinctively and beautifully.

Moshe Rabbeinu’s Act of Justice

The Gemara teaches that a goy who strikes a Jew is chayav misah—liable for the death penalty. This applies even to a mere slap, not only to murder. This principle is illustrated in the Torah narrative where Moshe Rabbeinu witnessed an Egyptian striking a Jewish man. The Torah states: “Vayifen koh vachoh, vayyar ki ein ish, vayach es haMitzri, vayit’meneyhu bachol” (“He turned this way and that, saw that there was no man, struck the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand”). On a simple pshat level, Moshe was fulfilling this halacha: a goy struck a Jew, and Moshe executed justice, administering the appropriate penalty. This act confirms the Torah’s stance that striking a Jew incurs capital punishment.

“Shema Yisrael” Used as a Weapon

What weapon did Moshe use to kill the Egyptian? The Torah doesn’t say. But the Zohar HaKadosh reveals that the words “vayifen koh vachoh” hold the answer. Koh (כ״ה) is 25, and vachoh is again 25—together they refer to the 25 letters of Shema Yisrael. The mitzvah of Kriyas Shema is so spiritually powerful that by reciting it with kavannah, a person can spiritually defeat his enemies. We say that when a person has enemies, what should he do about them? “Yashkim adam l’Beis HaMidrash“—he should get up early and go to shul. But how is that going to defeat his enemies? The answer lies in the concept of hashkamah—rising early. Where do we find a requirement to get up early? For what purpose? For z’man Kriyas Shema. The time for Kriyas Shema requires it to be said before a certain time—meaning it must be said early. Shema Yisrael with 25 letters is said in the morning and in the evening. This is what’s meant by the ko’ach of Kriyas Shema. “Vayifen koh vachoh“—with this ko’ach (strength), Moshe killed the Egyptian, simply by saying the Kriyas Shema alone.

The Ko’ach of Kriyas Shema

This idea is further illuminated by a hidden teaching of the Arizal, especially in the context of tikkun habris (rectifying the sin of wasted seed). Rebbe Nachman revealed the Tikkun Haklali—10 chapters of Tehillim that rectify this sin. However, the Arizal teaches that while the sin may be forgiven, it also creates spiritual forces—mazikim (damaging forces)—which must be destroyed. The only way to destroy these spiritual entities, the Arizal says, is through Kriyas Shema al hamitah—Shema said before going to sleep, with deep kavannah. This is the unique power of Shema Yisrael: it not only protects, but destroys spiritual harm at its root. So we see the ko’ach of these 25 all-powerful letters of Shema Yisrael.

David HaMelech & Golyas: 5 Stones of Shema

This too, the Zohar HaKadosh says, is what King David used in his battle against the giant Goliyas. It says he took five smooth stones min hanachal—from the stream. This nachal, of course, alludes to the verse “nachal nove’a mekor chochmah”—a flowing stream, a source of wisdom. Rebbe Nachman is also known as a nachal nove’a. David took these five smooth stones and his slingshot, which served as the container for the stones. The Zohar HaKadosh explains that he killed Goliyas with these stones. But how could simple stones kill a giant? When can a slingshot hold such power? Again, the Zohar answers: the power was in the words of Kriyas Shema. “Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem” — these are five words, corresponding to the five stones. The word “Echad”, which follows, encompasses all. Echad—Hashem is One—served as the slingshot, the vessel that directed the five stones. And thus, David HaMelech vanquished Goliyas, the arch-enemy of the Jewish people, with the spiritual force of Kriyas Shema.