Barechu (; may also be transliterated as ''bar'chu'' or ''barekhu'') is a part of the

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

prayer service, functioning as a call to prayer. The wording has its origins in ''

Psalms The Book of Psalms ( , ; ; ; ; , in Islam also called Zabur, ), also known as the Psalter, is the first book of the third section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) called ('Writings'), and a book of the Old Testament. The book is an anthology of B ...

'' (134: 1-2, 135: 19-20), but the blessing was standardized later, in the

Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...

Practice

The ''barechu'' is recited twice daily (in the morning prayers, ''shaharit'', and in the evening prayers, '' ma'ariv'') as part of the formal public prayer services. It is only recited in the presence of a '' minyan''. In addition to morning and evening prayer services, the ''barechu'' is also recited as part of each ''

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'' ( Torah reading). While the ''barechu'' is always read before the Shema, it is common in some communities, particularly Mizrahi and some Chasidic communities, to recite the blessing again at the end of both ''shaharit'' and ''ma'ariv'' for the benefit of those who arrived late to the service. This has been adopted by many Israeli Ashkenazi communities as well, although most Nusach Ashkenaz communities in Israel omit the last Barechu on morning with Torah Reading (since Barechu is recited before the Torah reading) and on Friday nights (when it is uncommon to have latecomers). The leader must stand for ''barechu''; in the Ashkenazic tradition, the congregation stands as well, but in the Sephardic tradition the congregation remains sitting. The leader of the service bows at the waist upon reciting the first word (''barechu''), and the congregation bows as they say the word ''"baruch'' (in the Sephardic tradition, the congregants slightly stand up for a moment just enough to be able to bow)." According to the old Ashkenazic custom, when the Chazzan says "Barekhu", the congregation recited a series of verses beginning "Yitbarach" in an undertone.These appear in the various Ashkenaz siddurim.

Text of the prayer

References

Shacharit Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish prayers and blessings {{Authority control

Practice

Text of the prayer

See also

References