Kriyat Shema: Difference between revisions

#When one says the first pasuk of Kriyat Shema, one should instill in one's heart love of Hashem. <ref>Mishna Brurah 25:14 quotes the Sefer Charedim who says that just as one shouldn't say Shema without [[Tefillin]], so too one shouldn't say  the first Pasuk of Shema without instilling in one's heart love of Hashem as the pasuk speaks about the command to love Hashem.</ref>

==Covering One's Eyes==

# The practice is to cover one's eyes<ref>Magen Giborim (A"H 61:7) writes that one should cover one's eyes and not one's whole face.</ref> for the first pasuk of kriyat Shema in order to enable oneself to have better intent and not be distracted while saying that pasuk.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 61:5 based on the Rosh 2:3 and Brachot 13b</ref> Another reason for covering one's eyes is based on an allusion in the pasuk ויוסף ישית ידו על עיניך<ref>Beresheet 46:4</ref> since Yosef's presence enabled Yaakov to strengthen his belief in Hashem's unity which is symbolized by covering one's eyes for kriyat Shema.<ref>[https://torah.org/torah-portion/ravfrand-5769-vayigash/ Rav Yisachar Frand quoting Rav Yakov Kulefsky]</ref>

# It is customary to use one's right hand to cover one's eyes for kriyat Shema.<ref>Ateret Zekenim 61:6, Shaarei Teshuva 61:6, Mishna Brurah 61:17. Dibrot Shlomo p. 235 quotes the Arizal (Pri Etz Chaim, Shema ch. 6) who says that one should cover one's eyes with one's right hand based on Kabalah. He explains that there's two layers of darkness, one associated with the left and the higher layer with the right.</ref> This is true even for a lefty.<ref>This was the practice of the Steipler (Orchot Rabbenu 1:53, cited by Dirshu 61:10). This is also the position of the Ben Ish Chai (Od Yosef Chai Vaera 3) that a lefty should use his right hand to cover his eyes.</ref>

# It is fine to cover one's eyes while wearing glasses and there's no question of [[chatzitza]], an interposition.<ref>Divrei Yatziv likutim 12 (cited by Dirshu 61:10)explained that there's no concern of a chatzitza while covering one's eyes since the point in covering one's eyes is so as not to be distracted.</ref>

#Some say that one should even cover one's eyes for Baruch Shem, while others disagree.<ref>Alim Lterufa 5766 cited the Shaar Kavanot of the Arizal (Aleinu drush 1) that one should cover one's eyes even for baruch shem while the Maharil (Minhagim Tefilah 1) only did it for Shema.</ref>

==How Kriyat Shema is to be Read==