Kriyat Shema: Difference between revisions

# One should be particularly careful that if the last letter of one word and the first letter of the next work, like bichol livavicha or vaavaditem miheira, to pronounce clearly that it is two different words. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 61:20 based on gemara berachot 15. Mishna Berura 61:33 adds that one shouldn't pause for too long because there is a makaf (hyphen), meaning that it is supposed to be pronounced together. </ref> One should also be careful when the last letter of a word in mem and the first letter of the next word is an aleph like uzichartem et, that he doesn't make it sound like the mem belongs to the next word and he is saying met. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 61:21. Mishna Berura 61:34 extends this to any situation where the mem and the alef are next to each other even when it will not sound like he is saying met, and also to whenever the aleph will get swallowed if you do not take a short pause. </ref>

# 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.  <Ref> Halacha Brurah 24:6, 60:5 </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>