Kriyat Shema

From Halachipedia

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. [1] 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. [2]
  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. [3]

Kissing Tefilin and Tzitzit during Shema

  1. 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. [4]
  2. When one says “UReetem Oto” (in the third paragraph of Shema) one should kiss the two front tzitiyot. [5]

References

  1. S”A 61:4 and Rama 61:26.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. S”A 61:25
  5. S”A 61:25