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
Hebrew
בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְהֹוָה הַמְבֹרָךְ:
Chabad
bor'chu es Adonoy ham'voyroch:
The congregation and chazzan say the following, bowing at בָּרוּךְ and standing upright at יְהֹוָה:
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
Chabad
boruch Adonoy ham'voyroch l'oylom vo-ed:
You may be seated.
Blessed is God, Who creates night
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה 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, יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים:
Chabad
boruch atoh Adonoy Eloyheinu melech
ho-oylom, asher bidvoroy
ma-ariv arovim, b'chochmoh poyseiach
sh'orim, uvisvunoh m'shaneh itim,
umachalif es haz'manim, um'sadeir es
hakoychovim, b'mishm'royseihem borokia,
kirtzoynoy. boyrei yoym voloy'loh, goyleil
oyr mip'nei choyshech, v'choyshech mip'nei oyr,
uma-avir yoym umeivi loy'loh, umavdil
bein yoym uvein loy'loh, Adonoy Tz'vo-oys sh'moy.
boruch atoh Adonoy, hama-ariv arovim:
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 עוֹלָם1 בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמְּךָ
אָהָבְתָּ, תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת,
חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים אוֹתָנוּ לִמַּדְתָּ.
עַל כֵּן יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, בְּשָׁכְבֵנוּ וּבְקוּמֵנוּ
נָשִׂיחַ בְּחֻקֶּיךָ, וְנִשְׂמַח בְּדִבְרֵי
תּוֹרָתְךָ וּבְמִצְוֹתֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. כִּי
Chabad
ahavas oylom beis Yisro-eil am'cho
ohovto, Toyroh umitzvoys,
chukim umishpotim oysonu limadto.
al kein Adonoy Eloyheinu, b'shoch'veinu uv'kumeinu
nosiach b'chukecho, v'nismach b'divrei
Toyros'cho uv'mitzvoysecho l'oylom vo-ed. ki
Hebrew
הֵם חַיֵּינוּ וְאֹרֶךְ יָמֵינוּ, וּבָהֶם
נֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה, וְאַהֲבָתְךָ
לֹא תָסִיר מִמֶּנּוּ לְעוֹלָמִים.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אוֹהֵב עַמּוֹ
יִשְׂרָאֵל:
Chabad
heim chayeinu v'oyrech yomeinu, uvohem
nehgeh yoymom voloy'loh, v'ahavos'cho
loy sosir mimenu l'oylomim.
boruch atoh Adonoy, oyheiv amoy
Yisro-eil:
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, יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהֹוָה | אֶחָד:
Chabad
sh'ma Yisro-eil, Adonoy Eloyheinu, Adonoy echod:
Say the following line quietly:
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
Chabad
boruch sheim k'voyd malchusoy l'oylom vo-ed:
Love God
Learn and teach Torah
Hebrew
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל |
לְבָבְךָ, וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ,
וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ: וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים
הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם,
עַל | לְבָבֶךָ: וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ
Chabad
v'ohavto eis Adonoy Eloyhecho, b'chol
l'vov'cho, uv'chol nafsh'cho,
uv'chol m'oydecho: v'hoyu had'vorim
ho-eileh asher onoychi m'tzav'cho hayoym,
al l'vovecho: v'shinantom l'vonecho