HaMapil

HaMapil is a blessing recited at the conclusion of the Kriat Shema that is said before going to bed. Our custom is to recite it while in bed just before falling asleep.

In this blessing, a person praises Hashem for creating sleep and wakefulness, and prays that his sleep will be free from bad dreams and evil thoughts, and that he will merit to receive his soul refreshed in the morning. After the blessing, it is forbidden to speak, and one should meditate on words of Torah or repeat the Kriat Shema until falling asleep.

Sources and Text of the Blessing

Regarding Bircat HaMapil, the Gemara in Tractate Berachot states: "One who enters to sleep on his bed says from 'Shema Yisrael' until 'V'haya Im Shamoa' and says: 'Blessed is He who casts the bonds of sleep upon my eyes and slumber upon my eyelids, and illuminates the pupil of the eye. May it be Your will, Hashem my G-d, that You lay me down in peace and grant my portion in Your Torah, accustom me to mitzvot and not to transgressions, do not bring me to sin, iniquity, test, or disgrace. May the good inclination rule over me and not the evil inclination. Save me from evil occurrences and serious illnesses, and may bad dreams and evil thoughts not frighten me. May my bed be complete before You, and illuminate my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death. Blessed are You, Hashem, who illuminates the entire world with His glory.'"

These matters were brought as halacha in the Rambam's book with a change in wording: "When a person enters his bed to sleep at night, he blesses: 'Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, who casts the bonds of sleep upon my eyes and deep slumber, and illuminates the pupil of the eye. May it be Your will, Hashem my G-d, that You save me from the evil inclination and from evil occurrences, and may bad dreams and evil thoughts not frighten me. May my bed be complete before You, and raise me from it to life and peace, and illuminate my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death. Blessed are You, Hashem, who illuminates the entire world with His glory.'" And he continues: "And one reads the first paragraph of the Shema and sleeps..."

These matters were brought in the Tur, where the blessing appears as the Alter Rebbe included in his Siddur: And one says "Blessed is He who casts the bonds of sleep upon my eyes and slumber upon my eyelids, and illuminates the pupil of the eye. May it be Your will, Hashem my G-d, that You lay me down in peace, and raise me to life and peace, and may bad dreams and evil thoughts not frighten me. May my bed be complete before You, and illuminate my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death. Blessed are You, Hashem, who illuminates the entire world with His glory."

And the Tur adds: "And Rav Amram added words to it: 'and raise me in peace, and grant my portion in Torah, and accustom me to matters of mitzvot and not to matters of transgression, and do not bring me to sin, test, or disgrace. May the good inclination rule over me and not the evil inclination. Save me from evil occurrences and serious illnesses, and may not frighten me,' etc."

Customs

Bircat HaMapil is recited specifically at the conclusion of the Kriat Shema before bed so that there will be no interruption between it and sleep.

Women also recite this blessing.

The blessing is recited in bed just before sleep. After reciting the blessing, one must be careful not to interrupt at all.

After the blessing, it is customary to meditate on words of Torah, such as a chapter of Tanya, a Mishna, a verse from Tehillim, or a verse from Chumash, until falling asleep. This is according to the tradition received from Chassidim that before sleep, they are particular about a sequence of action, speech, and thought: preparing water for washing hands beside the bed - action, reciting Kriat Shema before bed - speech, and after Bircat HaMapil thinking Tanya by heart until falling asleep - thought.

External Links

• Rabbi Yosef Simcha Ginzburg, Order of Kriat Shema Before Bed, edited and explained with Chabad laws and customs
• About Kriat Shema before bed and Bircat HaMapil on the Tzeirei Chabad website