Davening without tefillin

Hi,

[Normally, we require that one wear tefillin when reciting the morning Shema. Because the text of Shema includes the instruction to wear tefillin, reciting Shema without tefillin would be hypocritical.]

One who currently lacks tefillin, and isn't sure that he will be able to obtain tefillin before the latest time for Shema, should recite Shema now rather than wait. The same is true for the amidah and its time. When he obtains tefillin later, he should put them on to fulfill the mitzvah, and some say he should recite a paragraph of Tehillim with them on.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:57)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shema opposite uncovered hair

Hi,

A man may recite Shema in view of a non-Jewish woman whose hair is uncovered, even if she is married, assuming that the sight does not cause him inappropriate thoughts.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:15)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The location for Shema

Hi,

One must be careful to recite the Shema in a proper environment. If there is a foul-smelling trash can or a dirty diaper nearby, one may not recite Shema.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 79)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

What if I already said Shema? Part II

Hi,

Yesterday we noted that one who is in the room when others are reciting Shema should recite the first line with them, lest he appear to disagree with it (by his silence).

However: If one is praying, and at a point in prayer when interruption is prohibited, then he should simply say the words of the prayer he is in, but with the tune used for the opening line of Shema, so that his recitation will blend into theirs.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 65:2; Mishneh Berurah 65:11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

What if I already said Shema?

Hi,

One who has already recited Shema, but then enters a synagogue in which people are reciting Shema, must recite the first verse with them lest he appear to disagree with what they are saying.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 65:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Signaling during Shema

Hi,

One who is in the middle of reciting the first paragraph of Shema may not signal to others, such as with his eyes, lips or fingers, let alone speak to others.

This is a time when a person is declaring his acceptance of Gd's reign, and signalling to other people at that time would indicate that the Shema and its statements of faith are of secondary importance to him.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 63:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Reciting Shema while traveling

Hi,

One who is traveling and wishes to recite Shema must halt for the first sentence and the "Baruch Shem" line, in order to build up his concentration.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 63:3; Mishneh Berurah 63:9-10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Standing or sitting for Shema

Hi,

One may stand or sit while reciting Shema, but one may not recite Shema while lying on his back or stomach, because that would be disrespectful. One who is ill should try, at least, to turn on his side to the extent possible.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 63:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Touching tefillin and tzitzit while reciting Shema

Hi,

One who is wearing tefillin while reciting Shema should touch the arm and head tefillin when reciting the verses that mention them. Similarly, one who is wearing tzitzit should touch the tzitzit when reciting the verses that mention them.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 61:25)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Reciting Shema audibly

Hi,

We have mentioned that one should carefully enunciate each syllable of Shema, matching the way the Shema is written in the Torah. Ideally, this means that one should enunciate the Shema audibly. [It should be audible to himself, but it should not disturb others.]

The minimum is that one's mouth must form the words; even if he does not hear himself, he fulfills his obligation.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 62:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Enunciation of Shema

Hi,

It is important to realize that the mitzvah of reading Shema is to recite the verses of Shema, as they appear in the Torah. Therefore, the ideal is to take great care to separate each word and enunciate clearly. This is especially important with words which tend to run together. Some are even careful to read the verses with the notes (trope) used to read the weekly Torah portion, although this is not obligatory.

Of course, one who is not capable of reciting these words in the Hebrew should still recite them in English until he manages to learn the Hebrew.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 61:14-24)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Baruch Shem Kevod

Hi,

After the first line of Shema, we add the line "Baruch Shem K'vod Malchuto l'Olam va'Ed," "Blessed be the Name of the honor of His reign, forever."

This verse does not appear in the Torah's presentation of Shema; tradition teaches that Yaakov [Jacob] authored this line. When Yaakov was on his deathbed, his children confirmed their faith to him, saying, "Hear, Israel [Yaakov's other name], HaShem is our Gd, HaShem is One." Yaakov then responded, "Blessed be the Name..."

We say this line silently when we recite Shema; since the line does not appear in the Torah, we mark its uniqueness by saying it in this special way.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 61:13; Mishneh Berurah 61:29)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Repeating the word "Shema"

Hi,

One should not recite the word "Shema," or the entire first verse, twice; that would create the appearance of worshipping multiple gods.

If, however, one realizes that he was not concentrating when he first said it, he may repeat it silently. If no one else is around, he may even repeat the words aloud.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 61:9; Mishneh Berurah 61:22)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The first line of Shema

Hi,

We traditionally recite the first line of Shema aloud, in order to awaken our concentration. We also place our right hands over our eyes, to prevent us from seeing anything else and becoming distracted.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 61:4-5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Understanding the Shema

Hi,

The mitzvah of reciting the Shema includes more than mouthing the words; the words should be understood. The minimum is for a person to understand the first line and think about those words while saying them.

In addition, throughout the three paragraphs of Shema one must remember that he is reciting this to fulfill the mitzvah of saying Shema.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 60:5; Mishneh Berurah 60:11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shema

Hi,

There is a mitzvah to recite Shema twice a day. The Torah says to recite Shema "when we rise and when we go to sleep," and these times are talmudically understood to refer to the normal times of rising and going to sleep. Thus we are instructed to recite Shema (1) from first light through the first quarter of the day, and (2) from when the stars emerge, through the night.

Please note that this is separate from the mitzvah of reciting Shema before one goes to sleep. That is a practice for personal protection, as we have a verse-based tradition that reciting Shema protects us during the night. However, one could recite the entire Shema before going to sleep and so fulfill the mitzvah of reciting Shema in the evening, and reciting it at bedtime, simultaneously.

(Talmud, Berachot 5a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai