231. The Blessings Before and After Shema

Kriyas Shema 1:5

Blessings are recited before and after reading the Shema. By day, two blessings are recited before Shema and one after; by night, two blessings are recited before and two after.

Kriyas Shema 1:6

The first blessing before Shema by day is that God forms the light and creates darkness; the second is that He has loved us with everlasting love. By day, Shema is followed by “True and certain....”

The first blessing before Shema by night is that God brings on the evening; the second is that He has loved the Jewish people with everlasting love. The first blessing after Shema is “True and faithful...” and the second is “Cause us to lie down....”