לתולדות נוסחה הקדום של ברכת השכיבנו

This article discusses the wording of the 'Hashkivenu' (lay us down) blessing, the fourth benediction of the recitation of the Shema in the evening prayers. On the basis of the examination of more than 90 manuscripts from the Cairo Geniza we propose division of versions of the benediction according to branches. Comparison of these branches makes possible the clear identification of two versions of the kernel formulation, which is common to all the variants, both those associated with the Babylonian rite and those associated with the Palestinian rite. The authors suggest that the kernel formulation should be regarded as the ancient basis for the expanded versions, a conjecture that is consistent with the testimony of the Mishnah (Berakhot 1:4), which states that this benediction is 'short'.