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Can I learn to daven if I don't know Hebrew?

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How do I say Kaddish?

Our Yahrzeit section includes the Mourner's Kaddish (Kaddish Yatom) with multiple audio recordings, transliteration, and English translation. It also explains when Kaddish is said during each synagogue service (Shacharit, Mincha, Maariv), so you know exactly when to stand and recite it.

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Aleph2Daven includes service roadmaps for weekday and Shabbat davening that show the order of prayers. Each prayer has a 'where we are' indicator so you can follow along. The auto-advance feature plays through each section in order, and transliteration helps you read along even if you're still learning Hebrew.

What blessings (brachot) do I say before food?

Our Jewish Living section covers all food blessings: Hamotzi for bread, Mezonot for grain products (cake, cookies, pasta), Ha'etz for tree fruits, Ha'adama for vegetables and ground-growing foods, and Shehakol for everything else (water, meat, eggs, candy). Each includes the Hebrew text with vowels, transliteration, and audio.

How can I improve my davening?

Aleph2Daven helps you daven better in several ways: the coaching mode teaches the meaning of each section so you understand what you're saying, audio at adjustable speeds helps you practice pronunciation, and the full-view mode lets you see the entire prayer at once to build flow. You can also switch between section-by-section learning and full prayer reading as you improve.

What is the best app to learn Hebrew and Jewish prayer?

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← All prayers

אֱלֹקַי נְשָׁמָה

Elokai Neshama

Part of the morning brachot, after Asher Yatzar

Open in player — with audio + coaching

Why we say it

We acknowledge that our soul is pure — God breathed it into us, and He will one day take it back. Meanwhile, every moment is a gift.

After thanking God for the body (Asher Yatzar), we thank Him for the soul. Body + Soul = the complete person, ready to serve.

Hebrew, transliteration & translation

Part 1 of 3

אֱלֹקַי נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַתָּ בִּי טְהוֹרָה הִיא. אַתָּה בְרָאתָהּ אַתָּה יְצַרְתָּהּ אַתָּה נְפַחְתָּהּ בִּי

Elokai, n'shamah shenatata bi t'horah hi. Atah v'ratah, Atah y'tzartah, Atah n'fachtah bi

My God, the soul You placed within me is pure. You created it, You formed it, You breathed it into me

נְשָׁמָה = soul. טְהוֹרָה = pure. Three stages of creation: created, formed, breathed in.

Part 2 of 3

וְאַתָּה מְשַׁמְּרָהּ בְּקִרְבִּי וְאַתָּה עָתִיד לִטְּלָהּ מִמֶּנִּי וּלְהַחֲזִירָהּ בִּי לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא

V'Atah m'sham'rah b'kirbi, v'Atah atid lit'lah mimeni, ul'hachazira bi le'atid lavo

You safeguard it within me, You will eventually take it from me, and restore it to me in the future

Our soul is on loan — God guards it while we have it, takes it at night (sleep), and returns it each morning.

Part 3 of 3

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ הַמַּחֲזִיר נְשָׁמוֹת לִפְגָרִים מֵתִים

Baruch Atah Adonai, hamachazir n'shamot lifgarim meitim

Blessed are You, Lord, Who restores souls to lifeless bodies

Every morning is a mini-resurrection — a brand new chance at life.

Practice with audio →