Hebrew
בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ:
Sephardi
Barchu et Adonai hamevorach:
English
Let us now <b>bless the Lord, Who is blessed:</b>
Print pages
pp. 220-221
Shema
שְׁמַע
Visible layers
From this point until after the Amidah on page 238, it is forbidden to say anything other than words of prayer. Regarding permissible interruptions and responses to prayers, see inside back cover.
The congregation and chazzan bow, as the chazzan says aloud: For transliteration, see page 943.
Everyone should bless God
The congregation and chazzan say the following, bowing at בָּרוּךְ and standing upright at יְיָ:
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
Sephardi
Baruch Adonai hamevorach le'olam va'ed:
English
<b>Blessed is the Lord, Who is blessed, forever and ever.</b>
You may be seated.
Blessed is God, Who creates night
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ
הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בִּדְבָרוֹ
מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים, בְּחָכְמָה פּוֹתֵחַ
שְׁעָרִים, וּבִתְבוּנָה מְשַׁנֶּה עִתִּים,
וּמַחֲלִיף אֶת הַזְּמַנִּים, וּמְסַדֵּר אֶת
הַכּוֹכָבִים, בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתֵיהֶם בָּרָקִיעַ,
כִּרְצוֹנוֹ. בּוֹרֵא יוֹם וָלָיְלָה, גּוֹלֵל
אוֹר מִפְּנֵי חֹשֶׁךְ, וְחֹשֶׁךְ מִפְּנֵי אוֹר,
וּמַעֲבִיר יוֹם וּמֵבִיא לָיְלָה, וּמַבְדִּיל
בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָיְלָה, יְיָ צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים:
הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בִּדְבָרוֹ
מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים, בְּחָכְמָה פּוֹתֵחַ
שְׁעָרִים, וּבִתְבוּנָה מְשַׁנֶּה עִתִּים,
וּמַחֲלִיף אֶת הַזְּמַנִּים, וּמְסַדֵּר אֶת
הַכּוֹכָבִים, בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתֵיהֶם בָּרָקִיעַ,
כִּרְצוֹנוֹ. בּוֹרֵא יוֹם וָלָיְלָה, גּוֹלֵל
אוֹר מִפְּנֵי חֹשֶׁךְ, וְחֹשֶׁךְ מִפְּנֵי אוֹר,
וּמַעֲבִיר יוֹם וּמֵבִיא לָיְלָה, וּמַבְדִּיל
בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָיְלָה, יְיָ צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים:
Sephardi
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech
ha-olam, asher bidvaro
maariv aravim, bechochmah pote'ach
she'arim, uvitvunah meshaneh itim,
umachalif et hazemanim, umesader et
hakochavim, bemishmeroteihem barakia,
kirtsono. Borei yom valailah, golel
or mipnei choshech, vechoshech mipnei or,
uma'avir yom umevi lailah, umavdil
bein yom uvein lailah, Adonai tzeva'ot shemo.
Baruch Atah Adonai, hama'ariv aravim:
ha-olam, asher bidvaro
maariv aravim, bechochmah pote'ach
she'arim, uvitvunah meshaneh itim,
umachalif et hazemanim, umesader et
hakochavim, bemishmeroteihem barakia,
kirtsono. Borei yom valailah, golel
or mipnei choshech, vechoshech mipnei or,
uma'avir yom umevi lailah, umavdil
bein yom uvein lailah, Adonai tzeva'ot shemo.
Baruch Atah Adonai, hama'ariv aravim:
English
<b>Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, Who, by His word causes the evenings to become dark. With wisdom, He opens</b> the <b>gates</b> of heaven to let the sun and moon shine. <b>With understanding, He changes</b> the <b>times</b> when it becomes light and dark, <b>and He makes different times</b> for hot weather and cold weather. <b>He arranges the stars in their proper positions in the sky, according to His will. God creates day and night. He rolls away the light before</b> it becomes <b>dark and</b> rolls away the <b>darkness before</b> it becomes <b>light. He causes the day to pass and then brings the night. He makes a separation between day and night.</b> God's name is <b>"God of all creations." Blessed are You, Lord, Who makes the evenings dark.</b>
The Chazzan says the concluding words of the following blessing quietly; Amen is not said.
We will always learn God's Torah, which He gave us lovingly
Hebrew
אַהֲבַת עוֹלָם<sup>1</sup> בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמְּךָ
אָהָבְתָּ, תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת,
חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים אוֹתָנוּ לִמַּדְתָּ.
עַל כֵּן יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, בְּשָׁכְבֵנוּ וּבְקוּמֵנוּ
נָשִׂיחַ בְּחֻקֶּיךָ, וְנִשְׂמַח בְּדִבְרֵי
תּוֹרָתְךָ וּבְמִצְוֹתֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. כִּי
אָהָבְתָּ, תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת,
חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים אוֹתָנוּ לִמַּדְתָּ.
עַל כֵּן יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, בְּשָׁכְבֵנוּ וּבְקוּמֵנוּ
נָשִׂיחַ בְּחֻקֶּיךָ, וְנִשְׂמַח בְּדִבְרֵי
תּוֹרָתְךָ וּבְמִצְוֹתֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. כִּי
Sephardi
Ahavat olam<sup>1</sup> beit Yisrael amecha
ahavta, Torah umitzvot,
chukim umishpatim otanu limadeta.
Al ken Adonai Eloheinu, beshochbenu uvkumenu
nasiach bechukecha, venismach bedivrei
Toratecha uvmitzvotekha le'olam va'ed. Ki
ahavta, Torah umitzvot,
chukim umishpatim otanu limadeta.
Al ken Adonai Eloheinu, beshochbenu uvkumenu
nasiach bechukecha, venismach bedivrei
Toratecha uvmitzvotekha le'olam va'ed. Ki
English
<b>You have loved Your nation,</b><sup>1</sup> <b>the House of Israel, with an everlasting love. You have taught us the Torah and its commandments.</b> Some commandments are <b>decrees</b>—we do not know their reasons. Others are <b>laws</b>—we know their reasons. <b>Therefore, Lord, our God, when we lie down and when we get up, we will always be speaking about Your decrees, and</b>
Hebrew
הֵם חַיֵּינוּ וְאֹרֶךְ יָמֵינוּ, וּבָהֶם
נֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה, וְאַהֲבָתְךָ
לֹא תָסִיר מִמֶּנּוּ לְעוֹלָמִים.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אוֹהֵב עַמּוֹ
יִשְׂרָאֵל:
נֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה, וְאַהֲבָתְךָ
לֹא תָסִיר מִמֶּנּוּ לְעוֹלָמִים.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אוֹהֵב עַמּוֹ
יִשְׂרָאֵל:
Sephardi
hem chayeinu ve'orech yameinu, uvahem
nehgeh yomam valailah, ve'ahavatecha
lo tasir mimenu le'olamim.
Baruch Atah Adonai, ohev amo
Yisrael:
nehgeh yomam valailah, ve'ahavatecha
lo tasir mimenu le'olamim.
Baruch Atah Adonai, ohev amo
Yisrael:
English
<b>we will be happy with the words of Your Torah and with Your commandments forever and ever, because they are our</b> true <b>life and the length of our days;</b> they give us long life. <b>We will always study them, by day and by night.</b> God, may <b>Your love never leave us. Blessed are You, Lord, Who loves the Children of Israel,</b> His nation.
שְׁמַע
Shema
When saying the Shema, concentrate intently on its meaning. While saying the opening line (שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל), keep in mind that you are accepting God's sovereignty; while saying the first paragraph (וְאָהַבְתָּ), keep in mind that you are accepting the commandment to love God; and while saying the second paragraph (וְהָיָה), keep in mind that you are accepting all of God's commandments. By saying the third paragraph (וַיֹּאמֶר), you are fulfilling the commandment of remembering the Exodus from Egypt.
Special care must be taken to say each word of the Shema clearly. Pause at each punctuation mark to ensure that you do not string the words together and alter their meaning.
Say the following verse aloud, covering your eyes with your right hand. For transliteration, see page 943.
We declare God's Oneness
Hebrew
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְיָ | אֶחָד:
Sephardi
Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai | Echad:
English
Every Jew should <b>listen</b> and understand that <b>the Lord is our God,</b> and that <b>the Lord is the One</b> and only Ruler and King in the seven heavens, the earth, and the four corners of the universe.
Say the following line quietly:
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
Sephardi
Baruch shem kevod malchuto le'olam va'ed:
English
<b>The name of</b> God's <b>glorious kingdom is blessed forever and ever.</b>
Love God
Learn and teach Torah
Hebrew
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל |
לְבָבְךָ, וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ,
וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ: וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים
הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם,
עַל | לְבָבֶךָ: וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ
לְבָבְךָ, וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ,
וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ: וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים
הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם,
עַל | לְבָבֶךָ: וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ
Sephardi
Ve'ahavta et Adonai Elohecha, bechol |
levavcha, uvechol nafshecha,
uvechol me'odecha: vehayu hadevarim
ha'eleh asher anochi metzav'cha hayom,
al | levavecha: veshinantam levanecha
levavcha, uvechol nafshecha,
uvechol me'odecha: vehayu hadevarim
ha'eleh asher anochi metzav'cha hayom,
al | levavecha: veshinantam levanecha
English
<b>You should love the Lord, your God,</b> and keep His commandments <b>with all of your heart,</b> as one does when fulfilling his beloved's request. <b>Love God with all of your soul.</b> Be ready to fulfill all of His commandments, even if you might lose your life. <b>Love God with all of your might.</b> Be ready to fulfill all of His commandments, even