Emet V'Emunah (''True and faithful'') is the paragraph that is recited immediately following

Shema ''Shema Yisrael'' (''Shema Israel'' or ''Sh'ma Yisrael''; , “Hear, O Israel”) is a Jewish prayer (known as the Shema) that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. Its first verse encapsulates the monothe ...

during

Maariv ''Maariv'' or ''Maʿariv'' (, ), also known as ''Arvit'', or ''Arbit'' (, ), is a Jewish prayer service held in the evening or at night. It consists primarily of the evening '' Shema'' and ''Amidah''. The service will often begin with two ...

, two fundamental prayers of virtually all forms of Judaism practiced today. Its recitation fulfills the obligation to recall the Exodus from Egypt during the evening.

Themes

Emet V'Emunah is a parallel prayer to Emet Vayatziv, which is recited during

Shacharit ''Shacharit'' ( ''šaḥăriṯ''), or ''Shacharis'' in Ashkenazi Hebrew, is the morning '' tefillah'' (prayer) of Judaism, one of the three daily prayers. Different traditions identify different primary components of ''Shacharit''. E ...

immediately following Shema. But unlike Emet Vayatziv, which speaks of the redemptions from the past of the Jewish ancestors, Emet V'Emunah relates the future redemption of the Jewish people. Emet V'Emunah describes the chosenness of the Jewish people. The prayer describes the Jewish people as unique and distinctive, and with a mission to God.

Alternative version for Sabbath

In the Italian rite (based on the Siddur of Rav

Saadya Gaon Saʿadia ben Yosef Gaon (892–942) was a prominent rabbi, gaon, Jewish philosopher, and exegete who was active in the Abbasid Caliphate. Saadia is the first important rabbinic figure to write extensively in Judeo-Arabic. Known for his works o ...

), there is an alternative version of this blessing for the Sabbath, beginning with "emet ve-emunah ba-shevii".Angelo Piattelli and Hillel Sermoneta (eds.)
Seder Tefillot ke-minhag benè Roma
Jerusalem 2014, page 119.

References

{{Jewish prayers Maariv Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish prayers and blessings