Zeev...
Thank you for your input - I am not that conversant with Judaism, so it is always interesting to hear it from one that is schooled in the traditions.
In my reading of the Old Testament, it seems that there is the thought of life after death - an example would be David's belief that he would be reunited with his dead son. It was my understanding that Sheol was the destination of the dead, with the righteous and the unrighteous being separated but with fully conscious existence for eternity. I was also of the opinion that the sacrifices required on the Day of Atonement were for all sin - both those against God and those against fellow men.
As for the Shema, I agree that it at the least allows for the existence of the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), by the use of the word echod (ehad??), which is used in the sense of oneness made up of several singles, as in Adam and Eve were made "one" (echod) flesh. The use of the plural for God (Elohim) throughout the Old Testament allows for the same concept.
Again, thanks for sharing.
mlsoft