What Is Ashrei?
Ashrei (“Fortunate”) is a Jewish prayer from the Book of Psalms said (at least) three times daily.
When Is Ashrei Said?
In the morning, it forms the core of Pesuei Dezimra (“Verses of Praise”), which precede the Shema and the Amidah (“Silent Prayer”), and is said again near the conclusion of the service.
And in the afternoon, it opens the services, being said immediately before the Amidah (“Silent Prayer”).
Why Is Ashrei Special?
Other than the first two verses (Psalms 84:5 and Psalms 144:15) and the final verse (Psalms 115:18), it is entirely from Psalm 145.
This psalm was singled out by the sages of the Talmud,1 who declared that anyone who says it three times a day is assured to have a place in the World to Come. This is because it has the following unique characteristics.
Ashrei in Hebrew & English
Transliteration of Ashrei
ah-shray yohsh-vay vay-teh-khah ohd yi-hah-li-loo-khah seh-lah
ah-shray hah-ahm sheh-kah-khah loh ah-shray hah-ahm sheh-ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hahv
tih-hee-lah li-dah-veed
ah-roh-meem-khah eh-loh-hai hah-meh-lekh vah-ah-vahr-khah shee-mih-khah li-oh-lahm vah-ehd
bi-khohl yohm ah-vahr-kheh-khah vah-ah-hah-li-lah sheem-khah li-oh-lahm vah-ehd
gah-dohl ah-doh-noi oo-mih-hoo-lahl mih-ohd vi-leeg-doo-lah-toh ayn khay-kehr
dohr lih-dohr yih-shah-bakh mah-ah-seh-khah oog-voo-roh-teh-khah yah-gee-doo
hah-dahr kih-vohd hoh-deh-khah vih-deev-ray neef-lih-oh-teh-khah ah-see-khah
veh-eh-zooz noh-roh-teh-khah yoh-may-roo oog-doo-laht-khah ah-sah-preh-nah
zay-khehr rahv toov-khah yah-bee-oo vih-tzeed-kah-tih-khah yih-rah-nay-noo
khah-noon vih-rah-khoom ah-doh-noi eh-rekh ah-pah-yeem oog-dahl khah-sehd
tohv ah-doh-noi lah-kohl vi-rah-khah-mahv ahl kohl mah-ah-sahv
yoh-doo-khah ah-doh-noi kohl mah-ah-seh-khah vah-khah-see-deh-khah yih-vahr-khoo-khah
kih-vohd mahl-khoot-khah yoh-may-roo oog-voo-rah-tih-khah yih-dah-bay-roo
lih-hoh-dee-ah leev-nay hah-ah-dahm gih-voo-roh-tahv ookh-vohd hah-dahr mahl-khoo-toh
mahl-khoot-khah mahl-khoot kohl oh-lah-meem oo-mehm-shahl-tih-khah bi-khohl dohr vah-dohr
soh-maykh ah-doh-noi li-khohl hah-nohf-leem vih-zoh-kayf lih-khohl hahk-foo-feem
ay-nay khohl ay-leh-khah yi-sah-bay-roo vi-ah-tah noh-tayn lah-hehm eht ah-khlahm bih-ee-toh
poh-tay-akh eht yah-deh-khah oo-mah-sbee-ah li-khohl khai rah-tzohn
tzah-deek ah-doh-noi bi-khohl dih-rah-khahv vih-khah-seed bih-khohl mah-ah-sahv
kah-rohv ah-doh-noi lih-khohl kohr-ahv li-khohl ah-shehr yeek-rah-oo-hoo veh-eh-meht
ri-tzohn yi-ray-ahv yah-ah-seh vih-eht shah-vah-tahm yeesh-mah vi-yoh-shee-aym
shoh-mayr ah-doh-noi eht kohl oh-hah-vahv vi-ayt kohl hah-rih-shah-eem yahsh-meed
ti-hee-laht ah-doh-noi yi-dah-behr pee vee-vah-raykh kohl bah-sahr shaym kahd-shoh li-oh-lahm vah-ehd
vah-ah-nakh-noo ni-vah-raykh yah may-ah-tah vahd oh-lahm hah-li-loo-yah
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