Barechu and Shema

Question 1

Recite the Barechu, who says what?

Answer 1

Chazan : ברכו את ה המברך
Congregation : ברוך ה המברך לעולם ועד
Chazan : ברוך ה המברך לעולם ועד

-OH 57.1

Question 2

According to the Rema, it is customary for the Chazan to elongate the Barechu. What should the community say while he is doing that?

Answer 2

יתברך ישתבח ….
MB : only while the Chazan is singing. If he is saying actual words, listen to the words.

OH 57.1

Question 3

Some synagogues deal with communal matters in between Kadish and Barechu or between Barechu and Yotzer. Is this ok?

Answer 3

No. but its not a huge sin they are “merely misguided.” 57.2,

Also see 54.3 – one should not talk from Yishtabach until Yotzeyr.

Question 4

When you don’t have a minyan, what do you say before the Shema? Why? What happens when we say it in public?

Answer 4

אל מלך נאמן.
The Shema has 245 words and the body has 248 parts. By adding the extra three words it means that we should worship God with all the parts of our body.

In public, the Shatz repeats ה, אלהיכם אמת as the extra three words.

Question 5

Under what circumstances can you interrupt reciting the Shema?

Answer 5

You shouldn’t say hello to anyone. You can interrupt to say Amen to a benediction, to respond to Barekhu, or to respond with the congregation in saying the Kedusha.

Question 6

When does the time for reading the Shema begin?

What is the end time?

Answer 6

When you can see your friend from 4 amot and recognize him. End times is the third hour, ie when 1/4 of the day has passed.

Question 7

If you read the Shema before its time (right at עלות השחר, day break, before **הנץ החמה) what is the ruling

Answer 7

You really shouldn’t do that, but b’diavad it is ok.

Question 8

What do you do if the third hour has passed and you still haven’t read Shema?

Answer 8

Until the fourth hour, read the Shema with her blessings.

After the fourth hour, just read the Shema without her blessings.

Question 9

אהבה רבה, the blessing right before the morning Shema, why doesn’t it start with ברוך?

Answer 9

Because it connected to birkat yotzer or.

Question 10

Regarding the blessings around the Shema, do you need to read them with intent?
B) Do you need to read them in order?

Answer 10

A) Some say no, but some say that you need intent to fulfill any mitzvah. So Shulcan Aruch poskins this way.
B) No, you don’t need to read them in order.

Question 11

For the actual Shema, which line needs intent?

Answer 11

שמע … אחד

The rest of the lines you should have intent, but it is not necessary to fulfill the Mitzvah.

Question 12

If you read the Shema without her blessings, what should you do?

Answer 12

You are yotzei on Shema, you should go back and read her blessings after w/out the Shema. But its ok if you read the Shema twice, no biggie. 60.2

Question 13

How should you read the first line of the Shema?

Answer 13

With fear, trepidation, awe, trembling.

Question 14

Ideally, how you should read the next lines?

Answer 14

Like you are reading them anew, not like you’ve said them a million times before.

Question 15

How many words does the Shema have?
Why does the Shatz repeat “ה. אלוהיכם אמת”
Why when we say it alone do we say “אל מלך נאמן”

Answer 15

The Shema has 245 words. We want to add three words so it will have 248 words, corresponding to the parts of our body. So that is why we add the three words.

Question 16

Why do we say the first line of the Shema outloud? Two reasons

Answer 16

To awaken our intent.

So the whole congregation will hear us crown God as King.

Question 17

Can you say the first lne of the Shema twice, once right after each other?

Answer 17

No. Not the whole line and not shema shema, etc..

But its ok to do this on YK Neilah.

Question 18

In the Shema, Why do we pause between אשר אנכי מצווך and היום?

Answer 18

Because if you dont’ it will seem like you only have to love God today.

Question 19

We need to pause between the words קשרתם אותם why?

Answer 19

Because you have to pause if the first word ends in a ם and the second words begins with a א

Question 20

In the Shema, why should we emphasize the י in ישראל?

Answer 20

BEcause if we don’t it will sound like an א

Question 21

In the Shema, why do we put a pause between the words וחרה אף

Answer 21

Because we dont’ want them to go together and sound like וחרף (and … will abuse)

Question 22

All the rules of pronunciation for the Shema, do they apply elsewhere?

Answer 22

Yep. Pretty much everywhere else.

Question 23

If you say the Shema without paying attention to all the punctuation rules, are you yotzei?

Answer 23

yes

Question 24

Must you read the Shema in Hebrew?

Answer 24

No. We can read it in any language, you just need to be careful to pronounce it correctly.

Question 25

You should hear yourself say the Shema. But if you don’t, are you yotzei?

Answer 25

Yes, provided you said them with your lips.

Question 26

When can you say the Shema mentally, not verbally?

Answer 26

When you are ill or in a compelling circumstances,like you are trapped in a filthy place. Then just say it in your heart.

Question 27

Can you read the Shema lying down?

Answer 27

In the begining no. But if you are bed ridden, just turn to your side.

Question 28

If you walking and want to read the Shema, what should you do?

Answer 28

Stand stilll for the first line, then keep walking.

Question 29

If you are working and want to read the Shema, what should you do?

Answer 29

Pause working long enough to read the first paragraph. Then you can resume working and read the rest.

Question 30

What should you do if you are reading the Shema and make a mistake?

Answer 30

If you know where the mistake was, go back and reread that paragraph. If you don’t know where the mistake was, reread the whole thing.

Question 31

In the Shema, if you become confused about where you are (ie are you saying וכתבתם as part of the first or second paragraph?) what should you do?

Answer 31

Go back to the first time וכתבתם was said.

Question 32

What happens if you are reading the Shema and are interrupted/delayed?
What if the delay was long enough to read the entire Shema?

Answer 32

As long as you read the whole Shema, you are yotzei.

Even if the delay was so long that you could have read the whole thing.

Question 33

What if you come into synagogue late and find that everyone is saying the first paragraph, what should you do?

Answer 33

You should read at least the first paragraph with them. So it looks like you accept the yolk of heaven with the congregation.
Even if you have already read the Shema at home.
Even if you are in a place when you can’t make an interruption (like after baruch shamar to end of pseukei )

Question 34

Interruptions during the Shema, when can you make them to say hi…

a) During the first line
b) during the paragraphs
c) between one paragraph to another

Answer 34

a) only interrupt for someone who will kill you (king)
b) say hello מפני ירא (fear) like your parent or teacher
Return hello מפני כבוד (honor)
c) say hello to someone כבוד and return hello to everyone.

Question 35

If you forgot to put on tzitit or tefillin, can you stop in the middle of Shema and put them on?

Answer 35

Yes, even w/the blessings. Some say to do it w/out the blessing.

Question 36

Can you interrupt the Shema to respond to other prayers?

Answer 36

Yes,for baruch, modim, kedusha

Question 37

Can you interrupt between the last line of the shema and ה אלוהכם אמת

Answer 37

No

Question 38

After the shema, should you say amen after גאל ישראל

What can you do between גאל ישראל and the Amida?

Answer 38

No, go straight to the amida.

Put on tefillin if you couldn’t do so before. bu do it w/out the blessings. And don’t put on your tallis.

Question 39

What if you forget if you said the Shema?

What if you know you said the Shema, but forget if you said the blessings?

Answer 39

• Go back and read the Shema with her blessings.

- Don’t go back to read, neither the Shema nor her blessings.

Question 40

Can you say piyutim in between the blessings before the Shema?

Answer 40

Karo - no
Rama - some saiy it is ok.
But you cant talk about anything else.

Question 41

Should an avel (mourner whose dead is yet to be burred) say kirat shema and tefilah? Are they allowed to? What about Shabbat and Yom Tov

Answer 41

No and no

They should say prayers on Shabbat and Yom Tov. Unless they bury on Yom Tov.

Question 42

If you are guarding a body who is not your relative, should you say Shema and Tefilah? What if there are two guards?

What about the person digging the grave?

Answer 42

No.
If there are two guards, then one says Shema while one guards and then vicea versa.

Grave diggers are the same thing.

Question 43

Can you say the shema in a grave yard? What about within four amot of dead person?

Answer 43

Nope. If you did, you are not yotzei.