קריאת שמע וברכותיה
BLESSINGS OF THE SHEMA
The following blessing and response are said only in the presence of a minyan. They represent a formal summons to the congregation to engage in an act of collective prayer. The custom of bowing at this point is based on I Chronicles 29:20, "David said to the whole assembly, 'Now bless the LORD your God.' All the assembly blessed the LORD God of their fathers and bowed their heads low to the LORD and the King." The Leader says the following, bowing at "Bless," standing straight at "the LORD." The congregation, followed by the Leader, responds, bowing at "Bless," standing straight at "the LORD."
Hebrew
בָּרְכוּ
אֶת יְהוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ.
בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה הַמְּבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
Sephardi
Barchu
et Adonai hamevorach.
Baruch Adonai hamevorach le'olam va'ed.
Baruch Adonai hamevorach le'olam va'ed.
English
Leader: BLESS the LORD, the blessed One. Congregation: Bless the LORD, the blessed One, for ever and all time. Leader: Bless the LORD, the blessed One, for ever and all time.
The custom is to sit from this point until the Amida, since the predominant emotion of this section of the prayers is love rather than awe. Conversation is forbidden until after the Amida. See table on pages 1293–1295.
Is. 45
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
יוֹצֵר אוֹר וּבוֹרֵא חֹשֶׁךְ
עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם וּבוֹרֵא אֶת הַכֹּל.
Sephardi
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha'olam
yotzer or uvorei choshech
oseh shalom uvorei et hakol.
English
Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the Universe, who forms light and creates darkness, makes peace and creates all.