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    Chapter 2 · Keriat Shema and its blessings

    Evening Shema - four berakhot (11a)

    Lesson 13 of 32 18 min

    Evening: Ma’ariv Aravim, Ahavat Olam, Ga’al Israel, Hashkiveinu. Why four rather than three? The Yerushalmi treats "Hashkiveinu" as a late berakhah that "escorts" the night.

    Lesson goals
    • 01Identify the 4 evening berakhot and order
    • 02Grasp the uniqueness of "Hashkiveinu"
    • 03Know the Yerushalmi view
    01

    The Blessings Before Evening Shema

    In previous lessons, we constructed the framework of the morning Shema. We saw three blessings: two before and one after. Now, let's turn our gaze to the blessings of the evening Shema. Is the structure identical? Let's build it together.

    Talmud Bavli, Berakhot 11a
    תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף יא עמוד א: אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל: בערבית אומר שתי ברכות לפניה ושתי ברכות לאחריה.

    Rav Yehuda said in the name of Shmuel: In the evening, one recites two blessings before [Shema] and two blessings after it.

    The Gemara immediately presents a striking difference: in the evening, we have four blessings surrounding Shema – two before and two after. This is a different structure from the morning. Let's break down these blessings.

    1. 1The first blessing: 'Ma'ariv Aravim' – Creator of the evening orders of creation.
    2. 2The second blessing: 'Ahavat Olam' – A blessing common to both morning and evening, on God's love and Torah.
    3. 3Keriat Shema.
    4. 4The third blessing: 'Ga'al Israel' – The blessing of redemption, also common to both morning and evening.
    5. 5The fourth blessing: 'Hashkiveinu' – A blessing unique to the evening.
    02

    The Uniqueness of 'Hashkiveinu'

    The fourth blessing, 'Hashkiveinu', is what distinguishes the evening blessing order from the morning blessing order. What is the meaning and uniqueness of this blessing?

    Insight

    Hashkiveinu is a blessing of request and protection. It asks God to lay us down in peace and raise us up for a good life. It is a blessing that accompanies entering sleep and the potential dangers of the night.

    השכיבנוHashkiveinu
    The fourth blessing recited after the evening Shema, asking God to protect us during our sleep.
    03

    The Yerushalmi on 'Hashkiveinu' as a Late Blessing

    The Jerusalem Talmud presents an interesting perspective on the blessing of 'Hashkiveinu,' emphasizing its unique nature. It views it as a blessing not integral to the Shema blessing order, but rather a later addition.

    Talmud Yerushalmi, Berakhot 1:5
    תלמוד ירושלמי מסכת ברכות פרק א הלכה ה: תמן תנינן: בערב מברך שתים לפניה ושתים לאחריה. ואחת ארוכה ואחת קצרה. תנינן: השכיבנו ברכה בפני עצמה היא. מהו ברכה בפני עצמה היא? שאינה מן המניין.

    We learned: 'Hashkiveinu' is a blessing unto itself. What does 'a blessing unto itself' mean? That it is not counted among the [primary] blessings.

    Insight

    The Yerushalmi teaches us that 'Hashkiveinu' is not considered part of the original 'count' of the Shema blessings. It stands on its own, as a kind of 'accompaniment' for the night and sleep. It escorts a person into the night, out of concern for their well-being.

    04

    Constructing the Differences: Morning vs. Evening

    We have seen that the order of blessings surrounding Keriat Shema changes between morning and evening. Let's summarize the main differences to build a clear picture.

    1. 1Number of blessings: Morning – 3 blessings (2 before, 1 after). Evening – 4 blessings (2 before, 2 after).
    2. 2Unique blessings: Morning – 'Yotzer Or'. Evening – 'Ma'ariv Aravim' and 'Hashkiveinu'.
    3. 3Common blessings: 'Ahavat Olam' (before Shema) and 'Ga'al Israel' (after Shema) are recited both morning and evening.
    Insight

    Each blessing outlines another layer in our understanding of prayer. 'Hashkiveinu' is a layer of trust and supplication, adding further depth to the experience of accepting the yoke of Heaven's kingdom at night.

    Vocabulary from the dictionary

    Each word links to the full dictionary entry - source, translation, and grammar.

    Practice

    Compare morning vs. evening: how many berakhot? which shared? which unique?

    Lesson wrap-up

    Evening berakhot are not an addition - they embrace the coming night.

    Check your understanding

    Test yourself before marking the lesson complete.

    Question 1 of 4

    How many blessings are recited around the evening Keriat Shema, according to Rav Yehuda in the name of Shmuel?

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