## Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu

###### Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 1
[Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Siddur%20Ashkenaz/s/Weekday,_Shacharit,_Blessings%20of%20the%20Shema,_Barchu/r/1)

המנהג הפשוט בכל תפוצות ישראל לומר ברכו לפני פריסת שמע. ואין לאומרו בפחות מעשרה שכל דבר שבקדושה אינו בפחות מעשרה (אבודרהם).

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
*It has become a universally-accepted custom to recite*Barechu*before proceeding to the blessings of*Shema. Barechu,*like*Kaddish*and*Kedushah,*cannot be recited unless a quorum—a*minyan*of ten adult males—is present.*Barechu*is also said by one who is called upon to read from the Torah. The practice of saying*Barechu*is mentioned numerous times in the Talmud. It is even cited in the Mishna (Maseches Berachos 49b) in the names of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael.*


###### Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 2
[Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Siddur%20Ashkenaz/s/Weekday,_Shacharit,_Blessings%20of%20the%20Shema,_Barchu/r/2)

ואומר שליח צבור:

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
*The Chazzan says:*


###### Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 3
[Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Siddur%20Ashkenaz/s/Weekday,_Shacharit,_Blessings%20of%20the%20Shema,_Barchu/r/3)

**בָּרְ֒כוּ אֶת יְהֹוָה הַמְּ֒בֹרָךְ:**

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
**Bless Adonoy Who is blessed.**


###### Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 4
[Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Siddur%20Ashkenaz/s/Weekday,_Shacharit,_Blessings%20of%20the%20Shema,_Barchu/r/4)

ועונין הקהל:

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
*The Congregation responds and the Chazzan repeats:*


###### Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 5
[Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Siddur%20Ashkenaz/s/Weekday,_Shacharit,_Blessings%20of%20the%20Shema,_Barchu/r/5)

**בָּרוּךְ** יְהֹוָה הַמְּ֒בֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
Blessed is Adonoy, Who is blessed forever and ever.


###### Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 6
[Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu 6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Siddur%20Ashkenaz/s/Weekday,_Shacharit,_Blessings%20of%20the%20Shema,_Barchu/r/6)

אין להפסיק כלל בין ברכו ליוצר אור אפילו לדבר מצוה (לבוש).

**Sefaria Community Translation:**
*The two blessings יוֹצֵר אוֹר “He Who forms light” and אַהֲבָה רַבָּה “Great love,” are referred to as the blessings preceding Shema (*Maseches Berachos*11a). According to Rambam they were formulated by Ezra and his Court (*Laws of Shema*1:7). You may not interrupt your prayers from this point on until after the*Shemoneh Esrei*. But you may answer “Amein” to the blessings of הָאֵל הַקָּדוֹשׁ “The holy Powerful One” and שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִילָּה “He Who heeds prayer;” say the thrice-repeated קָדוֹשׁ “Holy…” and בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד “Blessed is the glory…” of*Kedushah*; and answer*Barechu.*You may also answer אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא “Amein, May His great Name,” when you hear Kaddish.” You may also answer Amein after the blessings of יוֹצֵר הַמְּאוֹרוֹת, “Who forms the luminaries,” and הַבּוֹחֵר בְּעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבָה, “Who chooses His people Israel with love.” For a more detailed exposition of these laws, see*Metsudah Kitzur Shulchan Aruch,*Vol. I, pp. 172-176.*