Birchot Kriyat Shema: Difference between revisions

# If one finished Yotzer Or or Ahavat Olam, Minhag Sephardim is that one shouldn’t answer amen to the bracha of Shaliach Tzibbur (or anyone else who finishes the bracha). Lechatchila one should complete the bracha together with the Shaliach Tzibbur so that one doesn’t have to get into the dispute whether one should make an amen or not. Minhag Ashkenaz is to answer amen after the bracha of the Shaliach Tzibbur but concerning Ahavat Olam it’s lechatchila to complete it with the Shaliach Tzibbur so as not to het into the dispute. <Ref> S”A 59:4 and Rama 61:3. Bet Yosef 59:4 writes that the Rosh (Teshuvat HaRosh 4:19)would finish Yotzer Or early in order to answer amen to the bracha of the Shaliach Tzibbor. Bet Yosef says that implied from the teshuva is the even after Ahavat Olam he would answer Amen. However Rabbenu Yonah in name of Rambam (Brachot 1:17), Ramban, and Razah says that one can’t interrupt between the bracha and Shema. Bet Yosef concludes that the Minhag is not to answer amen (and so writes Maharik (Shoresh 42)), but to remove oneself from dispute one should read the bracha together with the Shaliach Tzibbur. Rama 59:4 (and in Darkei Moshe 59:6) writes that the Minhag Ashkenaz is like the Rosh to finish early and answer Amen. Halacha Brurah (see Otzrot Yosef 4:8) adds that even Ashkenazim should preferably finish Ahavat Olam with the Shaliach Tzibbur to remove oneself from the dispute especially since the Tur (in name of Ramo (with a hey)) implies it’s not an obligation to finish early but only if one did then one can answer amen. [Interesting point: Bet Yosef makes a few implications from the Teshuvat HaRosh: 1) if one did finish the bracha together with the Shaliach Tzibbor it’s forbidden to answer amen because of Brachot 45b which says one shouldn’t answer amen after one’s own bracha. 2) One can’t listen to the entire bracha from the Shaliach tzibbor and then answer amen because one might remove his concentration and loose out on the bracha. Yet if one reads the bracha even if one looses concentration he still is considered as if he said the whole bracha. 3) (Bet Yosef’s first answer) The Rosh held that the practice of Rabbenu Yonah to read the whole bracha to oneself and only the end listen to the Shaliach Tzibbor also had the issue of loosing concentration when listening.] </ref>

# 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. <Ref> S”A 61:25 </ref>

# When one says “UReetem Oto” (in the third paragraph of Shema) one should kiss the two front tzitiyot. <Ref>S”A 61:25 </ref>