Birchot Kriyat Shema: Difference between revisions

# Ashkenazim can voluntarily say Brachot Kriyat Shema, while Sephardim may not make any Bracha that they aren’t obligated to make. <Ref> Even though the Pri Megadim (Ashel Avraham 296:11) writes that Brachot which don’t entail any action can not be volunteered including Brachot Kriyat Shema, the Yeshuot Yacov 422:6 argues that any Bracha that’s is preparation for a mitzvah may be volunteered but not a Bracha that is the complete mitzvah such as havdalah. The S”A HaRav 70:1, Mishna Brurah 70:2, and Aruch HaShulchan 70:1 rule that Ashkenazic women are permitted to voluntarily say Brachot Kriyat Shema. Concerning Sephardim, the Sh”t Or Letzion 2:5 pg 55 writes that since Brachot Kriyat Shema are praise women are permitted to volunteer to say them, while Sh”t Yabea Omer 8:8 and Sh”t Otzrot Yosef 4:3 argue on that Brachot can’t be volunteered even such a case. Halacha Brurah (Birur Halacha 70:3) explains that for Sephardim there’s a triple safek to permit women to make the Bracha: 1) perhaps women are obligated in Derabbanan time bound mitzvot (like Rashi and not Tosfot Brachot 20b), 2) perhaps women may volunteer a non-action Bracha that they are exempt from (like the Yeshuot Yacov and not Pri Megadim) and 3) perhaps on a Bracha that’s not of the form Vetzivanu women may volunteer the Bracha (like Rosh (Kedushin 31a) and not Rabbenu Tam). Nonetheless, Halacha Brurah concludes that the second and third Safek are really one Safek (as in Sh”t Yabea Omer 2:6:9) and on a double Safek we still say Safek Brachot LeHakel. </ref>

# According to Ashkenazim, some say there is an obligation to say the Brachot after shema (Emet Veyasiv, Emet VeEmunah, Haskivenu) because of the mitzvah to remember Egypt. However, according to Sephardim it’s not an obligation to say any of the Brachot Kriyat Shema. <Ref> However, the Magan Avraham 70:1 writes that women are obligated to say the Bracha of Emet VeYatziv since the obligation of remembering leaving Egypt is a mitzvah that’s not time-bound. The Solet Belulah 70:1, S”A HaRav 70:1, Siddur Bet Ovad (Kriyat Shema Arvit 1-2), and Mishna Brurah 70:2 agree with the Magan Avraham. However, the Sh”t Shagat Aryeh 12 writes that women are exempt from the mitzvah of remembering leaving Egypt since it’s a time bound mitzvah since the mitzvah of the day is different from the nighttime mitzvah. The Nezirut Shimshon 67, Limudei Hashem 142, and Aruch HaShulchan 70 agree with the Shagat Aryeh. Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 6:12 writes that according to Ashkenazim since there are those who say that it’s an obligation and even if it’s not an obligation it can be said voluntarily (as Rama 589:6 writes), there is nothing to loose by saying the Bracha. However, Sephardim hold that if a person is exempt from a Bracha one may not make the Bracha voluntarily (as S”A 589:6 writes). Therefore, Sh”t Yabea Omer O”C 2:20, Halacha Brurah 70:2 and Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 6:12 hold that Sephardic women aren’t obligated to say the Bracha (at least there’s a doubt) and so it shouldn’t be said voluntarily. </ref>

== Earliest time and Vatikin==