Shema — Full Step-by-Step Guide | The Mitzvah Movement

What it is

The mitzvah

The Shema is the central declaration of Jewish faith: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” The full Shema is three Torah passages, said every morning and every night. Its first verse is the heart of it.

Why we do it

The sources

Devarim 6:4–7Direct Source

“Hear, O Israel… and you shall speak of them… when you lie down and when you rise up.”

Mishnah Berachot 1:1–2Direct Source

The Mishnah opens the entire Talmud with the times for saying the Shema at night and in the morning.

Berachot 13bDirect Source

Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi covered his eyes while saying the first verse — the source of the custom.

Before you start

What you need

Nothing — just a few quiet seconds
A siddur if you want the full three paragraphs

Full instructions

Step by step

Halachic note: These steps describe common practice. Details vary by community and halachic tradition — follow your family’s custom, and for your own situation, ask a rabbi.

Find a quiet moment: in the morning, and again at night (bedtime counts).
Cover your eyes with your right hand, so you see nothing but the words.
Say the first line out loud, slowly, thinking about its meaning.
Then quietly add the second line: “Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.”
Continue with the first paragraph, V’ahavta, all the way to “uvish’arecha” (Devarim 6:5–9) — the full text is below.
When you are ready, add the other two paragraphs from a siddur.

Blessings & words

What to say

English first, then the words to say out loud — sounded out so anyone can say them.

First line

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד.

Say itShema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.

Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

Said quietly

בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.

Say itBaruch shem k’vod malchuto l’olam va’ed.

Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.

First paragraph — V’ahavta (Devarim 6:5–9)

וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ. וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל לְבָבֶךָ. וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ. וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת עַל יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ. וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזֻזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ.

Say itV’ahavta et Adonai Elohecha, b’chol l’vav’cha, uv’chol nafsh’cha, uv’chol m’odecha. V’hayu had’varim ha’eleh, asher anochi m’tzav’cha hayom, al l’vavecha. V’shinantam l’vanecha, v’dibarta bam, b’shivt’cha b’veitecha, uv’lecht’cha vaderech, uv’shochb’cha uv’kumecha. Uk’shartam l’ot al yadecha, v’hayu l’totafot bein einecha. Uch’tavtam al m’zuzot beitecha uvish’arecha.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be upon your heart. Teach them to your children, and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. Bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be a reminder between your eyes. And write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

This page contains Hebrew prayer text with the Divine Name. If you print it, please treat it respectfully and dispose of it appropriately (in genizah).

Common questions

Questions people ask

What time is the morning Shema?

Ideally early, before about the first quarter of the day. The exact time changes daily — check a local Jewish calendar (search “zmanim” for your city).

I only know the first line. Does that count?

The first verse, said with intention, is the core (Berachot 13b). Start there and add more.

What is the bedtime Shema?

A short prayer said in bed, with the Shema at its heart. Many parents say it with their children every night.

Where customs differ

Your family’s way

Communities differ slightly in pronunciation and in the prayers around the Shema. The first line is the same everywhere.

Go deeper

The inner dimension

“One” means everywhereDirect Source

The Talmud teaches to linger on the word “Echad” long enough to accept Hashem as King above, below, and in all four directions (Berachot 13b).

Your one step

Tonight, before you sleep, cover your eyes and say the first line.

I did it

These are general guidelines. Customs differ between communities, and for a personal question, ask a rabbi you trust.

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