The Bedtime Shema
The Bedtime Shema (Kriat Shema al ha-Mitah) is a traditional Jewish night-time prayer recited just before sleep. It centres on the first paragraph of the Shema and includes blessings and psalms that ask God for peaceful rest, protection from harm, and freedom from troubling thoughts or dreams.
It is a moment of spiritual stock-taking: forgiving others, seeking forgiveness, and entrusting one’s Soul to God for the night. Many find it brings calm, a sense of divine shelter, and a gentle close to the day — preparing the heart and mind for restorative sleep and a fresh start in the morning.
This practice fulfils the biblical instruction to recite the Shema “when you lie down”, and has been treasured for centuries as a source of protection and peace at the close of each day.
Further guidance and the full traditional text will be added here in due course. Please return to this page for updates.