בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed13 are You, Adonoy14Generally speaking, the name Adonoy is understood as it is pronounced—Adonoy—, my Master, and indicates His rule and providence of the universe. When reciting the Shema however, one should bear in mind the written character of the Name which indicates God’s everpresent existence. He was—is—and ever will be.—Vilna Gaon
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם our God, King of the Universe,
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּ֒שָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו Who sanctified us with His commandments
וְצִוָּֽנוּ and commanded us
עַל נְטִילַת יָדָֽיִם: concerning the washing of hands.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם our God, King of the Universe,
אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּחָכְמָה Who formed man with wisdom15This may mean either that man was formed by God’s wisdom, or that God formed man and endowed him with wisdom.
וּבָֽרָא בוֹ נְקָבִים נְקָבִים and created within him openings
חֲלוּלִים חֲלוּלִים and hollows.
גָּלוּי וְיָדֽוּעַ It is obvious and known
לִפְ֒נֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶֽךָ in the presence of Your glorious throne16In refutation of those who claim that God is not concerned with earthly matters, we declare that even in the presence of His glorious throne, where He is surrounded by myriads of angels, He is aware of the mundane needs of each individual.—Vilna Gaon
שֶׁאִם יִפָּתֵֽחַ אֶחָד מֵהֶם that if one of them were ruptured,
אוֹ יִסָּתֵם אֶחָד מֵהֶם or if one of them were blocked,
אִי אֶפְשַׁר לְהִתְקַיֵּם it would be impossible to exist
וְלַעֲמֹד לְפָנֶֽיךָ and stand in Your Presence
אֲפִילוּ שָׁעָה אֶחָת. even for a short while.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
רוֹפֵא כָל בָּשָׂר Who heals all flesh
וּמַפְלִיא לַעֲשׂוֹת: and performs wonders.
אֱלֹהַי, My God!
נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַֽתָּ בִּי טְהוֹרָה הִיא the soul which You bestowed in me is pure;
אַתָּה בְרָאתָהּ אַתָּה יְצַרְתָּהּ You created it, You formed it,
אַתָּה נְפַחְתָּהּ בִּי You breathed it into me
וְאַתָּה מְשַׁמְּ֒רָהּ בְּקִרְבִּי and You preserve it within me.
וְאַתָּה עָתִיד לִטְּ֒לָהּ מִמֶּֽנִּי You will eventually take it from me,
וּלְהַחֲזִירָהּ בִּי לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, and restore it in me in the time to come.17This statement refers to the time when the dead will be resurrected.
כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַנְּ֒שָׁמָה בְקִרְבִּי So long as the soul is within me
מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי I give thanks to You, Adonoy my God,18Thus it is said, “I will praise Adonoy with my life, I will sing to my God with my being” (Psalms 146:2).
וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי and God of my fathers,
רִבּוֹן כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים Lord of all creatures,
אֲדוֹן כָּל הַנְּ֒שָׁמוֹת: Master of all souls.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
הַמַּחֲזִיר נְשָׁמוֹת Who restores souls
לִפְגָרִים מֵתִים: to dead bodies.19This is a reference to God’s restoring of the soul each morning following its departure while the person sleeps.