סִדּוּר · Siddur

The Shema

The Shema is part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service of the traditional weekday siddur. The full Hebrew text with English translation appears below; open it in the free interactive siddur to follow along.

Open in the free interactive Siddur →

One should remain seated in one place while reciting the Shema, It is essential that it be recited with intense concentration, with the right hand covering the eyes. The Baal haTanya teaches us to especially concentrate upon the first two portions, which are the “שְׁמַע” with “וְאָהַבְתָּ” (Deut. 6:4-9), and “וְהָיָה” (Deut. 11:13-21); which focus on the sovereignty of God. At the word אֶחָד, one should bear in mind when reading the letter א (which has the numeric value of one) that G-d is One. One should slightly draw out the ח (which has the numeric value of 8), and hold it as long as it takes to count to the number 8, while focusing on G-d's sovereignty over the seven heavens and the earth. The ד (which has the numeric value of 4) should also be slightly drawn out as long as it takes to count to the number 4, while focusing on the reality that God is sole sovereign of the universe, who is Master of all four cardinal directions. Together these numbers are equal to 13, which is equal to the words “Keter” (crown, the highest of the Sephirot) and “Ahava” (love). It is important that each word be said clearly and distinctly, not slurring one word into another. One should intentionally pause at the commas in order to carry the meaning “Hear O Israel (pause), the Lord who is our God (pause), is the one God.”

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ,

Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God,

יְיָ אֶחָד:

the Lord is One.

say in an undertone:

בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom for ever and ever.

The following paragraph should be said with ones mind set upon completing this command with love for G-d, Deuteronomy 6:5-9:

וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְיָ אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ בְּכָל֯־לְ֯בָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶֽךָ:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵֽלֶּה אֲשֶׁר֯ אָ֯נֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל֯־לְ֯בָבֶֽךָ:

And these words which I command you today, shall be upon your heart.

וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶֽיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּֽרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ:

You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise.

וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת עַל֯־יָ֯דֶֽךָ וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶֽיךָ:

You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes.

וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזֻזוֹת בֵּיתֶֽךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ:

And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.

Deuteronomy 11:13-21, while reciting this passage one should concentrate upon being receptive of all the Torah's commandments; as well as bearing in mind the reality of reward and punishment:

וְהָיָה אִם־שָׁמֹֽעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל־מִצְוֹתַי אֲשֶׁר֯ אָ֯נֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם

And it will be, if you will diligently obey My commandments which I enjoin upon you this day,

לְאַהֲבָה אֶת־יְיָ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וּלְעָבְדוֹ בְּכָל֯־לְ֯בַבְכֶם וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁכֶם:

to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul:

וְנָתַתִּי מְטַר֯־אַ֯רְצְכֶם בְּעִתּוֹ֯ י֯וֹרֶה וּמַלְקוֹשׁ

I will give rain for your land at the proper time, the early rain and the late rain,

וְאָסַפְתָּ דְגָנֶֽךָ וְתִירשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ:

and you will gather in your grain, your wine and your oil.

וְנָתַתִּי עֵֽשֶׂב֯ בְּ֯שָׂדְךָ לִבְהֶמְתֶּֽךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ:

And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be sated.

הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם פֶּן֯־יִ֯פְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם וְסַרְתֶּם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֱלֹהִים֯ אֲ֯חֵרִים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶם לָהֶם:

Take care lest your heart be lured away, and you turn astray and worship alien gods and bow down to them.

וְחָרָה אַף־יְיָ בָּכֶם וְעָצַר֯ אֶ֯ת־הַשָּׁמַֽיִם וְלֹּא֯־יִ֯הְיֶה מָטָר וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת֯־יְ֯בוּלָהּ

For then the Lord’s wrath will flare up against you, and He will close the heavens so that there will be no rain and the earth will not yield its produce,

וַאֲבַדְתֶּם֯ מְ֯הֵרָה מֵעַל הָאָֽרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר֯ יְ֯יָ נֹתֵן לָכֶם:

and you will swiftly perish from the good land which the Lord gives you.

וְשַׂמְתֶּם֯ אֶ֯ת־דְּבָרַי֯ אֵֽ֯לֶּה עַל֯־לְ֯בַבְכֶם וְעַל־נַפְשְׁכֶם

Therefore, place these words of Mine upon your heart and upon your soul,

וּקְשַׁרְתֶּם֯ אֹ֯תָם לְאוֹת עַל֯־יֶ֯דְכֶם וְהָיוּ לְטוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם:

and bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes.

וְלִמַּדְתֶּם֯ אֹ֯תָם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶם לְדַבֵּר בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּֽרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ:

You shall teach them to your children, to speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise.

וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזוּזוֹת בֵּיתֶֽךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ:

And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates—

לְמַֽעַן֯ יִ֯רְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְיָ לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם לָתֵת לָהֶם כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַֽיִם עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ:

so that your days and the days of your children may be prolonged on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give to them for as long as the heavens are above the earth.

Numbers 15:37-41; while reciting this passage one should concentrate upon fulfilling the requirement to remember the Exodus from Egypt:

וַֽיֹּאמֶר֯ יְ֯יָ אֶ֯ל־משֶׁה לֵּאמֹר:

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

דַּבֵּר֯ אֶ֯ל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם וְעָשׂוּ לָהֶם צִיצִת עַל־כַּנְפֵי בִגְדֵיהֶם לְדֹרֹתָם

Speak to the children of Israel and tell them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations,

וְנָתְנוּ עַל־צִיצִת הַכָּנָף֯ פְּ֯תִיל תְּכֵֽלֶת:

and to attach a thread of blue on the fringe of each corner.

וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְצִיצִת וּרְאִיתֶם֯ אֹ֯תוֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם֯ אֶ֯ת־כָּל־מִצְוֹת֯ יְ֯יָ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֯ אֹ֯תָם

They shall be to you as tzitzit, and you shall look upon them and remember all the commandments of the Lord and fulfill them,

וְלֹא תָתֽוּרוּ אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר֯־אַ֯תֶּם זֹנִים֯ אַ֯חֲרֵיהֶם:

and you will not follow after your heart and after your eyes by which you go astray—

לְמַֽעַן תִּזְכְּרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֯ אֶ֯ת־כָּל־מִצְוֹתָי וִהְיִיתֶם קְדשִׁים לֵאלֹהֵיכֶם:

so that you may remember and fulfill all My commandments, and be holy to your God.

אֲנִי יְיָ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם֯ אֲ֯שֶׁר הוֹצֵֽאתִי אֶתְכֶם֯ מֵ֯אֶֽרֶץ מִצְרַֽיִם לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים֯

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God;

אֲ֯נִי יְיָ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם֯:

I, the Lord, am your God.

One should not pause between the words "אֱלֹהֵיכֶם" and “אֱמֶת." If one is praying without a minyan one should repeat the phrase "אֲנִי יְיָ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם" and then conclude with the word “אֱמֶת"

אֱמֶת וֶאֱמוּנָה כָּל זֹאת, וְקַיָּם עָלֵינוּ, כִּי הוּא יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְאֵין זוּלָתוֹ, וַאֲנַחְנוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ, הַפּוֹדֵנוּ מִיַּד מְלָכִים, הַגּוֹאֲלֵנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ מִכַּף כָּל הֶעָרִיצִים. הָאֵל הַנִּפְרָע לָנוּ מִצָּרֵינוּ, הַמְשַׁלֵּם גְּמוּל לְכָל איְבֵי נַפְשֵׁנוּ, הָעֹשֶׁה גדֹלוֹת עַד אֵין חֵקֶר, וְנִפְלָוֹת עַד אֵין מִסְפָר.Job 9: הַשָּׂם נַפְשֵׁנוּ בַּחַיִּים, וְלֹא נָתַן לַמּוֹט רַגְלֵנוּ,Psalms 66: הַמַּדְרִיכֵנוּ עַל בָּמוֹת איְבֵינוּ, וַיָּרֶם קַרְנֵנוּ עַל כָּל שׂנְאֵינוּ. הָאֵל הָעֹשֶׂה לָנוּ נְקָמָה בְּפַרְעֹה, וְאוֹתוֹת וּמוֹפְתִים בְּאַדְמַת בְּנֵי חָם. הַמַּכֶּה בְעֶבְרָתוֹ כָּל בְּכוֹרֵי מִצְרָיִם, וַיּוֹצֵא אֶת עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתּוֹכָם לְחֵרוּת עוֹלָם. הַמַּעֲבִיר בָּנָיו בֵּין גִּזְרֵי יַם סוּף, וְאֶת רודְפֵיהֶם וְאֶת שׂוֹנְאֵיהֶם בִּתְהוֹמוֹת טִבַּע, וְרָאוּ בָנָיו אֶת גְּבוּרָתוֹ, שִׁבְּחוּ וְהוֹדוּ לִשְׁמוֹ. וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בְרָצוֹן קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם. משֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ עָנוּ שִׁירָה בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה, וְאָמְרוּ כֻלָּם:

Truth and belief is all this; it is established with us that He is the Lord our God, there is no other, and that we Israel are His people. It is He who redeems us from the hand of kings; our King, who delivers us from the grip of all the tyrants; the benevolent God, who avenges us against our persecutors, and brings retribution on all our mortal enemies. He does great things beyond limit, and wonders beyond number. He has kept us alive, and did not allow our feet to falter. He led us upon the high places of our foes, and increased our strength over all our adversaries. He is the benevolent God who, in our behalf, brought retribution upon Pharaoh, and signs and miracles in the land of the Hamites; who, in His wrath, struck all the first-born of Egypt, and brought out His people Israel from their midst to everlasting freedom; who led His children through the divided parts of the Sea of Reeds, and drowned their pursuers and their enemies in the depths. As His children beheld His might, they extolled and offered praise to His Name, and willingly accepted His sovereignty; Moses and the children of Israel with great joy raised their voices in song to You, and they all proclaimed:

מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִים יְיָ, מִי כָּמֹכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ, נוֹרָא תְהִלֹּת עֹשֵׂה פֶלֶא:Exodus 15: מַלְכוּתְךָ רָאוּ בָנֶיךָ, בּוֹקֵעַ יָם לִפְנֵי משֶׁה, זֶה אֵלִיExodus 15: עָנוּ וְאָמְרוּ יְיָ יִמְלךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:Exodus 15: וְנֶאֱמַר: כִּי פָדָה יְיָ אֶת יַעֲקֹב, וּגְאָלוֹ מִיַּד חָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ.Jeremiah 31: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, גָּאַל יִשְׂרָאֵל:

Who is like You among the supernal beings, O Lord! Who is like You, resplendent in holiness, awesome in praise, performing wonders! Your children beheld Your sovereignty as You split the sea before Moses. “This is my God!” they exclaimed, and declared, “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.” And it is said: For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and delivered him from a power mightier than he. Blessed are You Lord, who has delivered Israel.

(Cong: אָמֵן)

הַשְׁכִּיבֵנוּ אָבִינוּ לְשָׁלוֹם, וְהַעֲמִידֵנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם, וְתַקְּנֵנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ מְהֵרָה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וּפְרוֹשׂ עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַפּוֹרֵשֹ סֻכַּת שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינו וְעַל כָּל עַמּוֹ יְשְׁרָאֵל וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלָיִם:

Our Father, let us lie down in peace; our King, raise us up to a good life and peace. Improve us with Your good counsel, help us speedily for the sake of Your Name, and spread over us the shelter of Your peace. Blessed are You Lord, who spreads the shelter of peace over us, over His entire people Israel, and over Jerusalem.

(Cong: אָמֵן) It is the general custom, though not the Chabad tradition, to recite the following verses relating to Shabbat and Festivals on their appropriate days: On Shabbat:

וְשָׁמְרוּ בְנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת לַעֲשֹוֹת אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, לְדֹרֹתָם, בְּרִית עוֹלָם: בֵּינִי וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל אוֹת הִיא לְעוֹלָם, כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָֹה יְיָ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שָׁבַת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ:Exodus 31:-17

And the Children of Israel shall observe the Shabbat, establishing the Shabbat throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for all time, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested.

On Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot:

וַיְדַבֵּר משֶׁה אֶת מוֹעֲדֵי יְיָ, אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל:Leviticus 23:

Moses proclaimed the Festivals of the Lord to the children of Israel.

On Rosh haShannah:

תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר, בַּכֶּסֶה לְיוֹם חַגֵּנוּ: כִּי חֹק לְיִשְֹרָאֵל הוּא, מִשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב:Psalm 81:-5

Blow the shofar on the New Moon, on the designated day of our Holy Day. For it is a decree for Israel, a day of judgment for the God of Jacob.

On Yom Kippur:

כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם, מִכֹּל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם, לִפְנֵי יְיָ תִּטְהָרוּ:Leviticus 16:

In the presence of a minyan the Chazzan recites the Hatzi-Kaddish, as follows. In the following prayer the congregation responds with the phrases in parenthesis:

יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ, וְיַצְמַח פֻּרְקָנֵהּ וִיקָרֵב מְשִׁיחֵהּ. בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:

Exalted and hallowed be His great Name. (Cong: Amen.) Throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingship, bring forth His redemption and hasten the coming of His Mashiach. (Cong: Amen.) In your lifetime and in your days and in the lifetime of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon, and say, Amen.

(Cong: אָמֵן. יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא, יִתְבָּרֵךְ:)

(Cong: Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and to all eternity. Blessed.)

יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא, יִתְבָּרֵךְ, וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח, וְיִתְפָּאֵר, וְיִתְרוֹמֵם, וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא, וְיִתְהַדָּר, וְיִתְעַלֶּה, וְיִתְהַלָּל, שְׁמֵהּ דְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא, תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא, דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:

May His great Name be blessed forever and to all eternity. Blessed and praised, glorified, exalted and extolled, honored, adored and lauded be the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He. (Cong: Amen.) Beyond all the blessings, hymns, praises and consolations that are uttered in the world; and say, Amen. (Cong: Amen.)

Hebrew text follows the traditional vocalized siddur. Provided for personal prayer and study. Part of a family of free Jewish apps.