Start of Shas

Why does shas start with krias shema? The most important mitzvah that applies constantly is emunah. The gemora says in Makus (24,1) בא חבקוק והעמידן על אחת, all the 613 mitzvos are embedded into this one. Therefore Rebbi chose krias shema said twice daily to start with. Why shema and not krias shema as we find in SA? The MB O’CH 61,2 says that pasuk shema is against אנכי and לא יהיה לך. The GRA explains that it says ראש דברך אמת so he starts up with אמת. The Torah emphasizing emunah starts with אנכי – א the mishnah with מ – מאימתי and the gemorah תנא היכי קאי – ת together אמת. This also ties the end of shas to the beginning where shas finishes with כל השונה הלכות whoever repeats his learning everyday which goes with ושננתם – שיהי דברי תורה מחודדים בפיך שאם ישאל אדם דבר אל תגמגם אלא אמור לו מיד the words of Torah should be strengthened in your mouth that if someone asks you something don’t stutter but answer him right away. So, the emphasis is emunah which is in the first parsha of shema. Shema according to the Bnei Yehodoah adds up to אליהו משיח asking when will they come. The answer is when we learn for the right reason lishmo (the kohanim where free to able to learn). To eat means to enjoy our learning where the Midrash says that the redemption will come because of the learning of the mishnah as the word מתניתן means גם כי יתנו בגוים אתה אקבצם even when we are placed among the goyim, You will collect us.