Kriyat Shema

From Halachipedia

Obligation

  1. There’s a Torah obligation to say Shema once in the morning and once at night as it says “VeDibarta Bam…BeShovkacha Uvkumecha”. [1]
  2. There’s a dispute about how much of Shema is Deoritta and we hold only the first pasuk is Deoritta and next three paragraphs are Derabbanan. [2]

Who's Exempt?

  1. Women are exempt from Kriyat Shema [3] however it is proper [4] that women say the pasuk of Shema Yisrael [5] (and Baruch Shem) [6].
  2. A groom the night of his wedding is obligated to say the Kriyat Shema. [7]

Doing a task at the time of Kriyat Shema

  1. If someone started a task before the time of Kriyat Shema began (at Olot HaShachar) he may continue as long one will have time after the work to say Kriyat Shema. [8]
  2. However, if someone started a task after the time of Kriyat Shema he must stop immediately. [9]
  3. Nonetheless, if one began eating before Olot HaShachar, one must stop immediately at Olot HaShachar since one may not eat before saying Kriyat Shema. [10]

How Kriyat Shema is to be Read

  1. One should read the first Pasuk out loud by everyone in the congregation in order to inspire Kavana. [11] The rest of Shema should preferably be said out loud individually but if the congregation wants otherwise one can say it quietly as along as it’s loud enough to be heard by oneself. [12]
  2. One should read Kriyat Shema with the tune of Torah reading. So is the Minhag of Sephardim and some Ashkenzim, however some Ashkenazim have the Minhag to not say it with the tune. However one should still pasue in the proper places not to mess up the meaning of the words. [13]

Kissing Tefilin and Tzitzit during Shema

  1. There is a practice to gather all four Tzitziyot when one gets to the words “MeArbah Kanfot HaAretz” and hold them in your left hand. When one gets to third paragraph of Shema one transfers the strings into one’s right hand, while holding onto the knots with one’s left hand until “VeNemanim VeNechmadim Laad” when one kisses the tzitzit and lets go of the tzitziyot. The same applies to a lefty. Some have the practice to only hold the two front tzitiyot. [14]
  2. When one says “UKeshartem LeOt Al Yadecha” one should kiss the Tefilin Shel Yad. When one says “Vehayu LeTotafot Ben Eiynecha” one should kiss the Tefilin Shel Rosh. [15]
  3. When one says “UReetem Oto” (in the third paragraph of Shema) one should kiss the two front tzitiyot. [16]


Kavana one needs for Shema

  1. Besides Kavana that one has to fulfill the positive Mitzvah to say Shema (since we hold Mitzvot need Kavana), one needs to understand what one is saying in the first pasuk of Shema because of the Kabalat Ol Malchut Shamayim (acceptance of yoke of heaven) and Yichud Hashem (knowing the Hashem is one). [17] However, in the rest of Shema one only needs Kavana to say the words (not to be Metasek, accidentally doing the action). [18]

References

  1. ↑ There’s a dispute in the Gemara (Brachot 21a) whether Shema is Deoritta. The Rishonim are in dispute of what we hold. Rav Amram Goan 1:21 pg 102b, Tosfot (Sukkah 11a D”H Rav Amram, Sotah 32a D”H Kriyat Shema Utefilah, 32b S”H Urebbe), Teshuvat HaRosh 4:21 hold it’s only derabanan. However Piskei HaRosh (Brachot 3:15), Rif 12a, Rambam Hilchot Kriyat Shema 2:13, Tur and S”A 67:1 all hold it’s a deoritta.
  2. ↑ Even among the Rishonim who hold Shema is Deoritta there are many different opinions on how much of it is deoritta. The Ramban (Milchamot Rosh Hashana 3e) says it’s just the first pasuk, Talmedei Rabbenu Yonah 7b in name of the Rif says it’s the first paragraph. However Baal Hamaor and Raavad argue that the Rif holds it’s only the first pasuk. Ohel Moed 21a quotes that Rabbenu tam holds all three paragraphs are deoritta. Pri Chadash 67 D”H Ume’atta says the Rambam holds the first two paragraphs are deoritta, while Sh”t Shagat Aryeh (Siman 2) argues Rambam only holds the first paragraph and the Sh”t Rashba 1:320 says the Rambam holds it’s just the first pasuk. The Bet Yosef 63e rules that only the first pasuk is Deoritta.
  3. ↑ S”A 70:1 explains that they are exempt because Kriyat Shema is a Mitzvah Aseh SheZman Grama.
  4. ↑ S”A 70:1 writes that it’s proper that women accept upon themselves the yoke of heaven. Even though the Bach (70) holds that women are obligated to accept the yoke of heaven daily, the Mishna Brurah 70:1 and Halacha Brurah 70:1 bring many who argue and hold like S”A that it’s only proper but not an obligation.
  5. ↑ The Rama 70:1 explains it to mean the pasuk of Shema Yisrael. The Nachalat Tzvi 70:1 writes that S”A holds that women should say the first paragraph and the Levush (brought by Mishna Brurah 70:5 and Halacha Brurah 70:1) implies that S”A agrees to the Rama. Halacha Brurah 70:1 rules that both for Ashkenazim and Sephardim it’s sufficient to say the first pasuk.
  6. ↑ Levush 70:1, Chida in Kesher Gudal 11:3, and Halacha Brurah 70:1 write that women should also say Baruch Shem along with Shema Yisrael.
  7. ↑ The Mishna (Brachot 16b) writes that a groom of a virgin was exempt from saying Kriyat Shema because he is busy with his mitzvah. However, Tosfot (Brachot 17b D”H Rav Shisha) writes that since nowadays we don’t have kavanah anyway a groom is obligated to say Kriyat Shema. This is quoted in the Hagot Maimon (Kriyat Shema 4:2), and Mordechai 2:3. However, Rambam (Kriyat Shema 4:7) rules that a groom is exempt but is permitted to say it if he is able to concentrate. Pri Megadim (A”A 70:2) explains that S”A 70:3 rules like Tosfot that a groom is obligated in Kriyat Shema and it’s not just optional. Such is the opinion of most achronim including the Sh”t HaRama 132:1, Levush 70:3, Olat Tamid 70:6, Atert Zekenim 70:3, Bear Hetiev 70:4, S”A HaRav 70:3, Mishna Brurah 70:14, Kaf HaChaim 70:10, and Halacha Brurah 70:4.
  8. ↑ Mishna Brurah 70:23 and Halacha Brurah 70:6
  9. ↑ Mishna Brurah 70:23 and Halacha Brurah 70:6
  10. ↑ Mishna Brurah 70:23 and Halacha Brurah 70:6
  11. ↑ S”A 61:4 and Rama 61:26.
  12. ↑ Halacha Brurah 61:9 based on S”A 61:26 who says that there is a practice for everyone to say it quietly and there’s a practice to say it out loud.
  13. ↑ Talmidei Rabbenu Yonah 8b says that one must say Kriyat Shema with the Torah reading tune. So rules the Tur and S”A 61:24. Rama adds that the Minhag Ashkenaz is not to say it with the tune but some are strict in this regard.
  14. ↑ Halacha Brurah 24:6, 60:5
  15. ↑ S”A 61:25
  16. ↑ S”A 61:25
  17. ↑ Sh”t Rashba 1:344 writes that even though one needs Kavana by every mitzvah by Shema and Shemona Esreh one needs also to think about the words. So rules S”A 60:5
  18. ↑ Raah (Brachot 2e) writes that there’s three levels of Kavana; first is not to be Metasek to intend to do the action of the mitzvah such as reading the words of Shema even if his intention is to check that it’s written correctly, then second is Kavana to fulfill every mitzvah, and the third Kavana is to intend every word for Hashem as one is able. This is quoted by Sefer Hashlama, Sefer Meorot, Rav Avraham Alashvili, Shitah Mekubeset, Ritva all found on Brachot 13a, and Avudraham (Siddur Kol Hashana). S”A 60:5 rules that the first Kavana is sufficient for the rest of Shema and the third level of Kavana is needed for the first pasuk of Shema. So rules many Achronim including Sh”t Radvaz 4:1094, Magan Avrham 60:4, Pri Chadash 60:5, Eliyah Raba 60:3, Pri Megadim A”A 60:4, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 60:5 and Halacha Brurah 60:17.
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