Kabbalah Library

154. Rabbi Shimon said, “Indeed, the Ten Commandments are implied in the portion Shema. The words, “And these words … shall be” are the entirety of the Ten Commandments. Hence there are ten commandments here, corresponding to the Ten Commandments in the Torah. these are 1) And you shall teach them diligently to your children, 2) and shall speak of them, 3) when you sit in your house, 4) when you walk on the road, 5) when you lie down, 6) and when you rise up. 7) And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, 8) and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9) And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house, 10) and on your gates.

Thus, they are ten, corresponding to the Ten Commandments. For this reason, these portions are a great rule in the Torah; happy is he who completes them each day twice, since the holy name is sanctified in his mouth properly.