The Shema in the Original Hebrew

Cover your eyes with your right hand and say:

Recite the following verse in an undertone:

From Siddur Tehillat Hashem. © Copyright Kehot Publication Society, Brooklyn NY

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85 Comments

Rachel London April 19, 2023

Do you have a copy of the Hebrew text of Tefillos (Shacharis, Mincha, Ma'ariv) the way you have of the Parshas of the week? There you have the English translation and Rashi's commentary, but even if you had just the Hebrew text of prayers that would be a great contribution. I note that you provide a link to a Siddur App but some people don't use smartphones and would like the text in a format that can be read (or printed out) on a computer. Many thanks. Reply

Sheila Wiconsin March 27, 2023

Where is the rest of the emes prayer which we are to continue after shema. We do not just say Shema. I am confused that both are not complete. Reply

Chabad.org Staff March 28, 2023

in response to Sheila:

The text below is the precise text of the Shema itself, without the prayers that are said before and after. Reply

Andrew Mackenzie London, England December 6, 2022

In terms of word construction, do 'SHEMa' and 'haSHEM' gave a common root word or is it a coincidence that they seem the same? Reply

Ruth Jerusalem January 26, 2023

in response to Andrew Mackenzie:

Hashem. The name.
Shema. Hear or Listen.
Interesting homology.
Never heard anyone discuss it before but you may be onto something. What’s a name if no one hears it? Reply

Jeffrey Davis MACOMB January 26, 2023

in response to Andrew Mackenzie:

No, no common root. Sh'ma means hear and is Shin Mem Ayin. HaShem is two words which means THE NAME and is a euphemism for G-d. Shin Mem or Shem means name.

As there are only 22 letters in Hebrew many words seem similar to those not fluent in the language. Once fluent, easy to hear, speak, read, write, and know the differences. Reply

Rinah Brazil July 27, 2023

in response to Andrew Mackenzie:

There is more! In HaShem one finds in terms of morphology a (defined in this case) ARTICLE plus a NOUN (substantive). In other words, we have two words. (The Name, a way of addressing G-d).
Shmah or Shemah or Shema is the imperative form of the verb Leshmoah in Hebrew, which means Hear!
Shemah or shmah or Shema means Hear!
The problem we see here is based on something called transliteration, which means writing in a different alphabet (ENG) Hebrew sounds, so through an artificial linguistic tool created by the author, or a meta language, one can say words in Hebrew without reading Hebrew.
Having said that, the parameter anagram or permutation in combinatory analysis, eventually used in Hebrew for reasons we will not address here, is not applicable here, let alone something I will not address either, which is idiossincratic pronunciation. Reply

Nechama USA June 1, 2022

I was having a really scary dream - the kind that has you running or hiding - or both - and has you out of breath, and when you finally realize it’s a dream you look at you clock (which is now always a phone) hoping it’s time to wake up…
That happened this morning and I must have rolled on my phone and pushed the “shema” Chabad icon with this page attached, because I picked up my phone and was welcomed by The Shema prayer.
Seeing that, I woke up and said the Shema immediately. I’m still a little out of breath.
Thank you, HaShem! Reply

Ari April 27, 2022

Amen! Just what I needed. Thanks :) Baruch Hashem! Reply

Ariel Myers Philippine Sea November 6, 2021

Why cover your eyes with the right hand only? Reply

Simcha Bart for Chabad.org November 8, 2021

in response to Ariel Myers:

This is a great question. The Kabbalists have explained this using mystical reasons. You can read about this in the section called The Secret of the Blind Maiden part of the article Why Do We Cover Our Eyes for Shema? Reply

L September 27, 2021

Most people sing this from their phone would be alone and they would want to say el melech naamon. Reply

Ben Usa February 8, 2022

in response to L:

I agree. But know to do it anyways. Reply

Yenty Spring Valley August 16, 2021

Emes should be there . Period. Reply

Bob Barsky March 28, 2023

in response to Yenty:

Yes, but that is because the shema should run into the bracha emet v’natziv ( (masechet brachos, forget which perek) You would not say the word emet twice in shul. I’m not sure about when you are saying the shema before shul into order not to miss the z’man. Would one of the Rabbis tell us the din on this? Reply

Shiftan Yisrael (Shiftan Shagabaev) Brooklyn February 16, 2021

G-D exists, loves us and wants us to be happy! During these eventful, emotional muscle building times let's remember that G-D is One and is still in charge!!! Let's all come back stronger than ever, focus on happiness & appreciation, and shift "on" to a life overflowing with focus on appreciation, progress and massive contribution! Reply

Marian North Vancouver February 1, 2021

Thanks to Chabad for making it available to all Jews easily on line. Yeshar Koah !!! Reply

Marc NYC December 6, 2020

What does the stars above some letters mean? Reply

Marc NYC November 25, 2020

Why the stars above some letters? Reply

Sandy Ray Vancouver December 8, 2020

in response to Marc :

I hope I’m explaining this correctly, but where the shihva (:) is normally silent, the small star over that particular letter indicates emphasis and you pronounce it. Reply

Stanley Schuckman Jericho April 11, 2020

The Shema Yisrael is the source of Jewish longevity, it links the generations of Jewish life. Reply

Martin Huntingdon February 13, 2020

I live in an area with very few Jews but still manageto attend services. Just phoned local radio station hearing “thought for the day” given by a Christian rev, who recited just you shall love the Lord your G-d with all your hear and soul and might attributed to Jesus and Paul.
I rang the radio station and mentioned where the Shema is from in the Tanakh and explained the tephillin and mezuza etc.
It is very good to use Jewish teachings but at least have the decency to give the Jewish origin. Reply

R. Far Rockaway NY December 14, 2020

in response to Martin:

Good for you! I don't know you personally, but as a fellow Jew, I'm proud of you! ❤️
Too many of our teachings have been re-attributed to other sources, both Christian and secular. It's a good idea to let people know the actual sources, especially with something so vital as the Shma!
Incidentally, the Christian Bible includes the Tanach, so they should know the actual source of the Shma. But, I suppose they would probably rather attribute it to one of their people.
All the best. A Freilichin Chanukah! 🙂 Reply

George December 2, 2022

in response to Martin:

i can read it to a certain point and then dyslexia. Reply

Mark January 30, 2020

🙏🙏 I’ve been using this to say shema with my tefflin for the past year or so thank you so much Reply

Ikey January 14, 2020

Hashem is spectacular! Reply

Marc Daniel Boston May 19, 2019

I say the shema for life and for all mankind Reply

Yaakov Brooklyn March 10, 2019

Looking for free Hebrew English shema cards enlarged where can I get them? Reply

Esther February 21, 2019

At the end of the Shma shown above , the word "emet---אמת is" missing. Reply

Chabad.org Staff February 22, 2019

in response to Esther:

Emet is next to the next paragraph, Emet veYatziv. Reply

Marc Daniel Boston May 19, 2019

in response to Esther:

Where is the emet it means truth as you know I am sure Reply

Bob skokie, il July 31, 2020

in response to Marc Daniel:

When we read the shema we append the word emet from the next paragraph and go on from there, linking the shema to the bracha that follows it. But emet is not part of the text from devarim. Reply

bob November 25, 2020

in response to Bob :

I made a mistake - not Devarim, Bamidbar. Reply

Doug C Texas January 16, 2019

This is one of the most beautiful prayer given to humankind and the most important one, as it is Judaism's core creed. Reply

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