Find background and text for the prayers said at a patient’s bedside in Jewish death traditions, plus audio recordings for easy following.
When to say Jewish Prayers for Death
Jewish rituals for death can provide comfort for a dying Jewish person. As a family member or caregiver, it’s a kindness to help a dying patient say these prayers before their death. Since there’s no need to wait until death is very close to say the Jewish prayers for death, you can say the prayers, specifically Viduy (Jewish confession prayer), with any person who seems to be in his final illness.
Before suggesting that it is time to say the prayer of Viduy with a loved one, it’s important to reassure the person that this is not an omen for death, but rather the opposite. Saying Viduy when dealing with a serious illness is in fact a segulah (good omen) for recovery, because the prayer allows a person to do teshuvah (repent). Many people say the prayer and continue to live many healthy years afterwards, because the merit of the prayer helped them to recover.
You can remind your loved one that it’s important to say Viduy early enough so that one doesn’t become too weak to talk. Tell your loved one that this prayer can be a source of comfort. Once they’ve said the prayer, they may feel relaxed. They’ll know that they’ve already said their final prayers, and will be approaching death with a clean slate, having asked G-d forgiveness for all the sins of their lifetime. Now they will feel more ready to come before G-d, when death comes.
Jewish death traditions tell us that it’s the neshamah (soul) of a Jewish person, which comes before G-d after death. You can suggest to your loved one that regardless of what the relationship had been with their Creator until now, it’s not too late to reach out to Him now. As a dying person prepares to meet G-d in their death, you can help them work on accepting all that happened in their lifetime, believing that everything that G-d did was out of compassion. You can mention these ideas to your family member who is dying, to encourage them to say the Viduy and help them face death with a sense of peace.
The main thing to remember when suggesting to a patient that it is time to say Viduy is that this recitation will stand in their good stead, offering them merits and comfort.
When your loved one is ready to say Viduy, you can prepare by ritually washing the patient’s hands so they are pure. This means pouring water first on his right hand (wrist and down), then his left hand. Repeat this sequence for washing of each hand twice more. Then, you can say the words of the prayer, and let the patient repeat them after you.
You can also play the audio recording of the prayer below and say the words aloud, following the recording of the prayers.
Aside from the person helping your loved one say Viduy, it’s best that no one else be in the room at that time. Your loved one may get emotional while focusing on the meaning of the words, and it is only fair to give him his emotional space.
Reciting the Viduy Confessional
The prayer of Viduy is said any time a person confesses his sins. However, Paragraph 1 in the following prayer text is especially composed for a dying person. The other two paragraphs are said at every Viduy when the Jewish ritual of confession takes place.
Paragraph 1:
This prayer starts with a request that the sick or dying person have a full recovery. Then, it continues with a prayer that if the person should die, his death should be an atonement for all his sins, and he should merit enjoying his World to Come as a righteous person.
מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ יְיָ אֱ-לֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי שֶׁרְפוּאָתִי בְּיָדֶךָ וּמִיתָתִי בְּיָדֶךָ: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁתִּרְפָּאֵנִי רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה, וְאִם אָמוּת, תְּהֵא מִיתָתִי כַפָּרָה עַל כָּל חֲטָאִים וַעֲוֹנוֹת וּפְשָׁעִים שֶׁחָטָאתִי וְשֶׁעָוִיתִי וְשֶׁפָּשַׁעתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ, וְתֵן חֶלְקִי בְּגַן עֵדֶן, וְזַכֵּנִי לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא הַצָּפוּן לַצַּדִּיקִים
I acknowledge before You, Lord my G‑d and the G‑d of my fathers, that my recovery and my death are in Your hands. May it be Your will that You heal me with total recovery, but, if I die, may my death be an atonement for all the errors, iniquities, and willful sins that I have erred, sinned and transgressed before You, and may You grant my share in the Garden of Eden, and grant me the merit to abide in the World to Come which is vouchsafed for the righteous.
Paragraph 2:
This section asks G-d to accept the prayer, and is an expression of humility before G-d, admitting that we (anyone saying the prayer) are not perfect and have sinned.
אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֺהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ תָּבֹא לְפָנֶֽיךָ תְּפִלָּֽתֵֽנוּ, וְאַל־תִּתְעַלַּם מִתְּ֒חִנָּתֵֽנוּ שֶׁאֵין אָֽנוּ עַזֵּי פָנִים וּקְשֵׁי עֹֽרֶף לוֹמַר לְפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֺהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ צַדִּיקִים אֲנַֽחְנוּ וְלֺא
:חָטָֽאנוּ אֲבָל אֲנַֽחְנוּ וַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ חָטָֽאנוּ
Our God and God of our fathers, let our prayer come before you and do not ignore our supplication. For we are not so brazen-faced and stiff-necked to say to you, Adonoy, our God, and God of our fathers, We are righteous and have not sined. But, indeed, we and our fathers have sinned.
Paragraph 3:
Here is a list of sins that a person has done in his lifetime. See English translation for exact meaning. When saying these words, a person should have in mind that he is asking G-d forgiveness for all his sins, and that he wants to connect with his Creator once more.
אָשַֽׁמְנוּ. בָּגַֽדְנוּ. גָּזַֽלְנוּ. דִּבַּֽרְנוּ דֹּֽפִי. הֶעֱוִֽינוּ. וְהִרְשַֽׁעְנוּ. זַֽדְנוּ. חָמַֽסְנוּ. טָפַֽלְנוּ שֶֽׁקֶר. יָעַֽצְנוּ רָע. כִּזַּֽבְנוּ. לַֽצְנוּ. מָרַֽדְנוּ. נִאַֽצְנוּ. סָרַֽרְנוּ. עָוִֽינוּ. פָּשַֽׁעְנוּ. צָרַֽרְנוּ. קִשִּֽׁינוּ עֹֽרֶף.
:רָשַֽׁעְנוּ. שִׁחַֽתְנוּ. תִּעַֽבְנוּ. תָּעִֽינוּ. תִּעְתָּֽעְנוּ
We have trespassed [against God and man, and we are devastated by our guilt]; We have betrayed [God and man, we have been ungrateful for the good done to us]; We have stolen; We have slandered. We have caused others to sin; We have caused others to commit sins for which they are called רְשָׁעִים, wicked; We have sinned with malicious intent; We have forcibly taken other’s possessions even though we paid for them; We have added falsehood upon falsehood; we have joined with evil individuals or groups. We have given harmful advice; We have deceived; We have mocked; We have rebelled against God and His Torah; We have caused God to be angry with us; We have turned away from God’s Torah; We have sinned deliberately; We have been negligent in our performance of the commandments; We have caused our friends grief; We have been stiff-necked, refusing to admit that the cause of our suffering is our own sins. We have committed sins for which we are called רָשָׁע [raising a hand to hit someone]. We have committed sins which are the result of moral corruption; We have committed sins which the Torah refers to as abominations; We have gone astray; We have led others astray.
A longer addition to Viduy is said on Yom Kippur, which may be added here as well.
After completing the Viduy, a person should say the following line, requesting that his passing be peaceful:
.רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם מְנוּחָתִי
Master of the universe, may it be Your will that my passing be in peace.
After asking forgiveness from G-d, a sick or dying person will often feel cleansed and pure. He feels more ready to meet his Creator once more.
Saying Viduy should be followed by giving charity, as part of Jewish death traditions and laws. The patient specifically should be the one to donate his money, and at this time he should donate to a cause that specifically supports the poor, rather than any other cause.
Giving charity to the poor is a means of adding life to the world. It is the perfect way to add merit to one’s prayer of Viduy and ensure that forgiveness is indeed granted. This added merit can tip the balance against any sins that a person may have done in his lifetime, and allow the person to be considered truly righteous before G-d.
Jewish Death Traditions Prayers for Approaching Death
As mentioned above, the Viduy can be said by any terminally ill patient, or anyone who thinks that he may soon die. However, there is another set of prayers that is only said once death is very close.
This is the following set of prayers, usually said by a minyan (quorum of ten Jewish men) at a patient’s bedside. It is a merit for the dying person to have a minyan at his bedside, reciting these prayers. However, if no minyan is available, any Jewish person can say these prayers in the room where death is taking place.
Sometimes there isn’t enough time for that either, in which case the Jewish ritual for death will go straight to saying Shema Yisrael.
These prayers can be said by family members or those at the person’s bedside even when the person is completely unconscious and unaware of what is going on. It may feel as if there is no benefit to being in the room when the person is in such a state. But in fact, Jewish death traditions still strongly indicate that the dying person shouldn’t be left alone. By saying these prayers at the bedside, one can feel good knowing that they are providing real comfort to the patient, even when there is nothing else to do.
To start off, those present recite a prayer that their words should be accepted favorably.
The text is as follows:
.וְהִי נֹעַם ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ עָלֵינוּ, וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָה עָלֵינוּ, וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנֵהוּ
May the pleasantness of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us, yes, establish the work of our hands.
It is preferable to say the above prayer three times.
After this, the following psalms are recited:
Psalm 121
שִׁ֗יר לַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֣א עֵ֭ינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִ֑ים מֵ֝אַ֗יִן יָבֹ֥א עֶזְרִֽי׃
A song for ascents. I turn my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come?
עֶ֭זְרִי מֵעִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃
My help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.
אַל־יִתֵּ֣ן לַמּ֣וֹט רַגְלֶ֑ךָ אַל־יָ֝נ֗וּם שֹׁמְרֶֽךָ׃
He will not let your foot give way; your guardian will not slumber;
הִנֵּ֣ה לֹֽא־יָ֭נוּם וְלֹ֣א יִישָׁ֑ן שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
See, the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps!
יְהֹוָ֥ה שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ יְהֹוָ֥ה צִ֝לְּךָ֗ עַל־יַ֥ד יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
The LORD is your guardian, the LORD is your protection at your right hand.
יוֹמָ֗ם הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ לֹֽא־יַכֶּ֗כָּה וְיָרֵ֥חַ בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃
By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night.
יְֽהֹוָ֗ה יִשְׁמׇרְךָ֥ מִכׇּל־רָ֑ע יִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
The LORD will guard you from all harm; He will guard your life.
יְֽהֹוָ֗ה יִשְׁמׇר־צֵאתְךָ֥ וּבוֹאֶ֑ךָ מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
The LORD will guard your going and coming now and forever.
Psalm 130
שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹת מִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהֹוָֽה׃
A song of ascents. Out of the depths I call You, O LORD.
אֲדֹנָי֮ שִׁמְעָ֢ה בְק֫וֹלִ֥י תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה אׇ֭זְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁב֑וֹת לְ֝ק֗וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃
O Lord, listen to my cry; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
אִם־עֲוֺנ֥וֹת תִּשְׁמׇר־יָ֑הּ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י מִ֣י יַעֲמֹֽד׃
If You keep account of sins, O LORD, Lord, who will survive?
כִּֽי־עִמְּךָ֥ הַסְּלִיחָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן תִּוָּרֵֽא׃
Yours is the power to forgive so that You may be held in awe
קִוִּ֣יתִי יְ֭הֹוָה קִוְּתָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י וְֽלִדְבָר֥וֹ הוֹחָֽלְתִּי׃
I look to the LORD;I look to Him; I await His word.
נַפְשִׁ֥י לַאדֹנָ֑י מִשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים לַ֝בֹּ֗קֶר שֹׁמְרִ֥ים לַבֹּֽקֶר׃
I am more eager for the Lord than watchmen for the morning, watchmen for the morning.
יַחֵ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־יְ֫הֹוָ֥ה כִּֽי־עִם־יְהֹוָ֥ה הַחֶ֑סֶד וְהַרְבֵּ֖ה עִמּ֣וֹ פְדֽוּת׃
O Israel, wait for the LORD; for with the LORD is steadfast love and great power to redeem.
וְ֭הוּא יִפְדֶּ֣ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִ֝כֹּ֗ל עֲוֺנֹתָֽיו׃
It is He who will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.
Psalm 90
תְְּּפִלָּה֮ לְמֹשֶׁ֢ה אִֽישׁ־הָאֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים אֲֽדֹנָ֗י מָע֣וֹן אַ֭תָּה הָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֗נוּ בְּדֹ֣ר וָדֹֽר׃
A prayer of Moses, the man of God. O Lord, You have been our refuge in every generation.
בְּטֶ֤רֶם ׀ הָ֘רִ֤ים יֻלָּ֗דוּ וַתְּח֣וֹלֵֽל אֶ֣רֶץ וְתֵבֵ֑ל וּֽמֵעוֹלָ֥ם עַד־ע֝וֹלָ֗ם אַתָּ֥ה אֵֽל׃
Before the mountains came into being, before You brought forth the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity You are God.
תָּשֵׁ֣ב אֱ֭נוֹשׁ עַד־דַּכָּ֑א וַ֝תֹּ֗אמֶר שׁ֣וּבוּ בְנֵֽי־אָדָֽם׃
You return man to dust; You decreed, “Return you mortals!”
כִּ֤י אֶ֪לֶף שָׁנִ֡ים בְּֽעֵינֶ֗יךָ כְּי֣וֹם אֶ֭תְמוֹל כִּ֣י יַֽעֲבֹ֑ר וְאַשְׁמוּרָ֥ה בַלָּֽיְלָה׃
For in Your sight a thousand years are like yesterday that has passed, like a watch of the night.
זְ֭רַמְתָּם שֵׁנָ֣ה יִהְי֑וּ בַּ֝בֹּ֗קֶר כֶּחָצִ֥יר יַחֲלֹֽף׃
You engulf men in sleep;-bat daybreak they are like grass that renews itself;
בַּ֭בֹּקֶר יָצִ֣יץ וְחָלָ֑ף לָ֝עֶ֗רֶב יְמוֹלֵ֥ל וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃
At daybreak it flourishes anew; by dusk it withers and dries up.
כִּֽי־כָלִ֥ינוּ בְאַפֶּ֑ךָ וּֽבַחֲמָתְךָ֥ נִבְהָֽלְנוּ׃
So we are consumed by Your anger, terror-struck by Your fury.
שַׁתָּ֣ עֲוֺנֹתֵ֣ינוּ לְנֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ עֲ֝לֻמֵ֗נוּ לִמְא֥וֹר פָּנֶֽיךָ׃
You have set our iniquities before You, our hidden sins in the light of Your face.
כִּ֣י כׇל־יָ֭מֵינוּ פָּנ֣וּ בְעֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּלִּ֖ינוּ שָׁנֵ֣ינוּ כְמוֹ־הֶֽגֶה׃
All our days pass away in Your wrath; we spend our years like a sigh.
יְמֵֽי־שְׁנוֹתֵ֨ינוּ בָהֶ֥ם שִׁבְעִ֪ים שָׁנָ֡ה וְאִ֤ם בִּגְבוּרֹ֨ת ׀ שְׁמ֘וֹנִ֤ים שָׁנָ֗ה וְ֭רׇהְבָּם עָמָ֣ל וָאָ֑וֶן כִּי־גָ֥ז חִ֝֗ישׁ וַנָּעֻֽפָה׃
The span of our life is seventy years, or, given the strength, eighty years; but the best of them-b are trouble and sorrow. They pass by speedily, and we are in darkness.
מִֽי־י֭וֹדֵעַ עֹ֣ז אַפֶּ֑ךָ וּ֝כְיִרְאָתְךָ֗ עֶבְרָתֶֽךָ׃
Who can know Your furious anger? Your wrath matches the fear of You.
לִמְנ֣וֹת יָ֭מֵינוּ כֵּ֣ן הוֹדַ֑ע וְ֝נָבִ֗א לְבַ֣ב חׇכְמָֽה׃
Teach us to count our days rightly, that we may obtain a wise heart.
שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה עַד־מָתָ֑י וְ֝הִנָּחֵ֗ם עַל־עֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃
Turn, O LORD! How long? Show mercy to Your servants.
שַׂבְּעֵ֣נוּ בַבֹּ֣קֶר חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וּֽנְרַנְּנָ֥ה וְ֝נִשְׂמְחָ֗ה בְּכׇל־יָמֵֽינוּ׃
Satisfy us at daybreak with Your steadfast love that we may sing for joy all our days.
שַׂ֭מְּחֵנוּ כִּימ֣וֹת עִנִּיתָ֑נוּ שְׁ֝נ֗וֹת רָאִ֥ינוּ רָעָֽה׃
Give us joy for as long as You have afflicted us, for the years we have suffered misfortune.
יֵרָאֶ֣ה אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ פׇעֳלֶ֑ךָ וַ֝הֲדָרְךָ֗ עַל־בְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
Let Your deeds be seen by Your servants, Your glory by their children.
וִיהִ֤י ׀ נֹ֤עַם אֲדֹנָ֥י אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ עָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָ֭דֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָ֥ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דֵ֗ינוּ כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ׃
May the favor of the Lord, our God, be upon us; let the work of our hands prosper, O prosper the work of our hands!
The next prayer is that of ADON OLAM, which is said every day in Jewish prayers to acknowledge G-d’s presence and control in this world. It is said to acknowledge that G-d is in control of everything, including death.
:אֲדוֹן עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר מָלַךְ, בְּטֶֽרֶם כָּל יְצִיר נִבְרָא
Master of the Universe Who reigned before any creature was created.
:לְעֵת נַעֲשָׂה בְחֶפְצוֹ כֹּל, אֲזַי מֶֽלֶךְ שְׁמוֹ נִקְרָא
At the time when all was made by His will, then was His Name proclaimed King.
:וְאַחֲרֵי כִּכְלוֹת הַכֹּל, לְבַדּוֹ יִמְלֹךְ נוֹרָא
And after all things shall cease to be the Awesome One will reign alone.
:וְהוּא הָיָה וְהוּא הֹוֶה, וְהוּא יִהְיֶה בְּתִפְאָרָה
He was, He is, and He shall be in glory.
:וְהוּא אֶחָד וְאֵין שֵׁנִי, לְהַמְשִׁיל לוֹ לְהַחְבִּֽירָה
He is One, and there is no second to compare to Him, to associate [with Him].
:בְּלִי רֵאשִׁית בְּלִי תַכְלִית, וְלוֹ הָעֹז וְהַמִּשְׂרָה
Without beginning, without end, power and dominion are His.
:וְהוּא אֵלִי וְחַי גּוֹאֲלִי, וְצוּר חֶבְלִי בְּעֵת צָרָה
He is my God and my ever-living Redeemer, the Rock of my destiny on the day of distress.
:וְהוּא נִסִּי וּמָנוֹס לִי, מְנָת כּוֹסִי בְּיוֹם אֶקְרָא
He is my flag and my refuge; He is the portion of my cup on the day I call.
:בְּיָדוֹ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי, בְּעֵת אִישַׁן וְאָעִֽירָה
Into His hand I entrust my spirit [both] when I sleep and when I awaken.
:וְעִם רוּחִי גְּוִיָּתִי, יְהֹוָה לִי וְלֹא אִירָא
And with my spirit my body [too], Adonoy is with me, I shall not fear.
After this, the prayer of ANA B’KOACH is said, a kabbalistic poem that is a plea for mercy and protection:
:אַנָּא בְּכֹחַ גְּדֻלַּת יְמִינְךָ. תַּתִּיר צְרוּרָה: קַבֵּל רִנַּת עַמְּךָ. שַׂגְּבֵנוּ טַהֲרֵנוּ נוֹרָא: נָא גִּבּוֹר. דּוֹרְשֵׁי יִחוּדְךָ. כְּבַבַּת שָׁמְרֵם: בָּרְכֶם טַהֲרֵם. רַחֲמֵי צִדְקָתְךָ. תָּמִיד גָּמְלֵם
:חָסִין קָדוֹשׁ. בְּרוֹב טוּבְךָ. נָהֵל עֲדָתֵךָ: יָחִיד גֵּאֶה. לְעַמְּךָ פְּנֵה. זוֹכְרֵי קְדֻשֶּׁתֶּךָ: שַׁוְעָתֵנוּ קַבֵּל. וְשָׁמַע צַעֲקָתֵנוּ. יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלֻמוֹת: בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
We beg you! With the strength and greatness of your right arm, untie our bundled sins. Accept your nation’s song; elevate and purify us, O Awesome One. Please, O Heroic One, those who foster your Oneness, guard them like the pupil of an eye. Bless them, purify them, pity them. May Your righteousness always reward them. Powerful Holy One, in much goodness guide Your congregation. Unique and Exalted One, turn to Your nation which proclaims Your holiness. Accept our entreaty and hear our screams, O Knower of Mysteries. Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom, forever and ever.
The last long prayer is that of V’AL KEN NEKAVEH, which is said in hope for the ultimate redemption:
ועַל כֵּן נְקַוֶּה לְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ לִרְאוֹת מְהֵרָה בְּתִפְאֶֽרֶת עֻזֶּֽךָ לְהַעֲבִיר גִּלּוּלִים מִן הָאָֽרֶץ וְהָאֱלִילִים כָּרוֹת יִכָּרֵתוּן לְתַקֵּן עוֹלָם בְּמַלְכוּת שַׁדַּי וְכָל בְּנֵי בָשָׂר יִקְרְאוּ בִשְׁ֒מֶֽךָ, לְהַפְנוֹת אֵלֶֽיךָ כָּל רִשְׁ֒עֵי אָֽרֶץ, יַכִּֽירוּ וְיֵדְ֒עוּ כָּל יוֹשְׁ֒בֵי תֵבֵל כִּי לְךָ תִכְרַע כָּל בֶּֽרֶךְ תִּשָּׁבַע כָּל לָשׁוֹן: לְפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ יִכְרְעוּ וְיִפֹּֽלוּ, וְלִכְ֒בוֹד שִׁמְךָ יְקָר יִתֵּֽנוּ,
:וִיקַבְּ֒לוּ כֻלָּם אֶת עֹל מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ, וְתִמְלֺךְ עֲלֵיהֶם מְהֵרָה לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, כִּי הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁלְּ֒ךָ הִיא וּלְעֽוֹלְ֒מֵי עַד תִּמְלוֹךְ בְּכָבוֹד, כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ יְהֹוָה יִמְלֺךְ לְעֹלָם וָעֶד
:וְנֶאֱמַר וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה לְמֶֽלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָֽרֶץ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יְהֹוָה אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד
We therefore put our hope in You, Adonoy our God, to soon behold the glory of Your might in banishing idolatry from the earth, and the false gods will be utterly exterminated to perfect the world as the kingdom of Shadai. And all mankind will invoke Your Name, to turn back to You, all the wicked of the earth. They will realize and know, all the inhabitants of the world, that to You, every knee must bend, every tongue must swear [allegiance to You]. Before You, Adonoy, our God, they will bow and prostrate themselves, and to the glory of Your Name give honor. And they will all accept [upon themselves] the yoke of Your kingdom, and You will reign over them, soon, forever and ever. For the kingdom is Yours, and to all eternity You will reign in glory, as it is written in Your Torah: Adonoy will reign forever and ever. And it is said: And Adonoy will be King over the whole earth; on that day Adonoy will be One and His Name One.
Leave a Lasting Imprint on Hearts & Souls
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Leave a Lasting Imprint on Hearts & Souls
With a charitable bequest to Rabbi Meir Baal Haness tzedakah in your will, you set us up as your
messengers to replace difficulty
and sadness with joy for many
years to come.
Let’s Discuss Your Options
Final Moments in Jewish Death Traditions
When it seems that death may happen at any moment, the final prayers are said. If the dying person is still able to speak, they should say these prayers together with those at their bedside. Otherwise, those at the bedside can say these prayers out loud.
At this time, every word the dying person says is precious. Saying these words that recognize Hashem’s Oneness is the climax of a Jew’s existence and the most powerful way to end one’s life.
The order of the prayers is as follows:
SHEMA YISRAEL is said to acknowledge Hashem’s Oneness and is the ultimate statement of a Jew’s acceptance of Hashem’s rulership
:שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ יְהֹוָה אֶחָד
Hear, Israel: Adonoy is our God, Adonoy is One.
BARUCH SHEIM is said silently, three times in a row:
:בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם ועֶד
Blessed [is His] Name, Whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.
HASHEM HU HAELOKIM is said SEVEN TIME in a row:
.ה’ הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים
G‑d is the Lord.
HASHEM MELECH is said once out loud:
.ה’ מֶלֶךְ, ה’ מָלָךְ, ה’ יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
The Lord is King, the Lord was King, the Lord will be King forever and ever.
After these final prayers, when the patient remains alive for a while, you can continue reciting Psalms. If it seems once again that death is very close, you can repeat this set of prayers once more. If possible, you can try to say the Shema prayer just before death occurs.
When death does occur, you may be surprised at the peaceful tranquility with which it takes place. Judaism tells us how, at the time of death, a dying person is allowed to glimpse the light of G-d, which comforts them as they pass to a better world. While death seems so frightening to many of us, you may find that there is no fear involved for the dying person. Picture the light your loved one is seeing as they breathe their last.
HASHEM NASSAN is said once out loud:
.ה’ נָתַן וַה’ לָקַח, יְהִי שֵׁם ה’ מְבֹרָךְ
G-d has given, G-d has taken, may the name of G-d be blessed.
Read more on Jewish funeral traditions that should be followed immediately after death, as well as Jewish shiva traditions for mourning.
Jewish prayers are most often accompanied by the act of giving charity. This good deed acts as a merit for the prayer to be accepted favorably. Especially when it comes to the last prayers of a Jewish person’s life, which are full of meaning and significance, giving charity to worthy causes can enhance the prayers that are said. Charity that accompanies prayer is often given to needy people, such as poor families in Israel. For over 200 years Kupath Rabbi Meir has been funding programs for needy families, poor brides, helpless orphans, and poverty-stricken children. See our full list of programs here.
Practical Guide to Jewish
Death Traditions
![](https://rmbhcharities.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Rectangle-1135-33.png")
Leaving Instructions for Jewish Funeral Traditions 
Jewish Rituals for Death
at the Bedside
