Mishneh Torah, Reading the Shema Chapter 2

Chapter 2

א הַקּוֹרֵא אֶת שְׁמַע וְלֹא כִּוֵּן לִבּוֹ בְּפָסוּק רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁהוּא (דברים ו ד) ״שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל״ לֹא יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ וְהַשְּׁאָר אִם לֹא כִּוֵּן לִבּוֹ יָצָא. אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה קוֹרֵא בַּתּוֹרָה כְּדַרְכּוֹ אוֹ מַגִּיהַּ אֶת הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הָאֵלּוּ בְּעוֹנַת קְרִיאָה יָצָא וְהוּא שֶׁכִּוֵּן לִבּוֹ בְּפָסוּק רִאשׁוֹן:

1 One who reads the Shema and does not concentrate his mind while reciting the first verse—"Hear, O Israel, the Lord, our God, the Lord is One," has not fulfilled his duty. As to the remaining verses, if he did not concentrate his mind (while reciting them), he has nevertheless fulfilled his duty. Even if he was reading the Torah in his usual course of study or examining these sections in a scroll (to ensure correctness), and read them at the prescribed time, he has fulfilled his duty, provided however that he concentrated his mind while reciting the First Verse.

ב כָּל אָדָם קוֹרִין כְּדַרְכָּן בֵּין עוֹמְדִין בֵּין מְהַלְּכִין בֵּין שׁוֹכְבִין בֵּין רוֹכְבִין עַל גַּבֵּי בְּהֵמָה. וְאָסוּר לִקְרוֹת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וְהוּא מֻטָּל וּפָנָיו טוּחוֹת בַּקַּרְקַע אוֹ מֻשְׁלָךְ עַל גַּבּוֹ וּפָנָיו לְמַעְלָה. אֲבָל קוֹרֵא הוּא וְהוּא שׁוֹכֵב עַל צִדּוֹ. וְאִם הָיָה בַּעַל בָּשָׂר הַרְבֵּה וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהִתְהַפֵּךְ עַל צִדּוֹ אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה חוֹלֶה נוֹטֶה מְעַט לְצִדּוֹ וְקוֹרֵא:

2 Everyone may read the Shema in the ordinary postures—standing, walking, lying down or riding on an animal. It is forbidden to read the Shema, lying down prone with face to the ground, or lying on the back with face looking up. But one may read it while lying on one's side. An extremely corpulent person who is unable to turn on his side or one who is sick should slightly turn on his side and then recite the Shema.

ג מִי שֶׁהָיָה מְהַלֵּךְ עַל רַגְלָיו עוֹמֵד בְּפָסוּק רִאשׁוֹן וְהַשְּׁאָר קוֹרֵא וְהוּא מְהַלֵּךְ. הָיָה יָשֵׁן מְצַעֲרִין אוֹתוֹ וּמְעִירִין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּקְרָא פָּסוּק רִאשׁוֹן וּמִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ אִם אֲנָסַתּוּ שֵׁנָה אֵין מְצַעֲרִין אוֹתוֹ:

3 A traveller, journeying on foot, must stand while reciting the first verse. The remaining verses he may read walking. A person who is asleep should be aroused when the time comes for reading the Shema, and kept awake till he has read the first verse. If after that, he is overcome by drowsiness and falls asleep, he is not to be disturbed.

ד מִי שֶׁהָיָה עוֹסֵק בִּמְלָאכָה מַפְסִיק עַד שֶׁיִּקְרָא פָּרָשָׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה כֻּלָּהּ. וְכֵן הָאֻמָּנִין בְּטֵלִין מִמְּלַאכְתָּן בְּפָרָשָׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא קְרִיאָתָן עַרְאַי, וְהַשְּׁאָר קוֹרֵא הוּא כְּדַרְכּוֹ וְעוֹסֵק בִּמְלַאכְתּוֹ. אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה עוֹמֵד בְּרֹאשׁ הָאִילָן אוֹ בְּרֹאשׁ הַכֹּתֶל קוֹרֵא בִּמְקוֹמוֹ וּמְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ:

4 A person, engaged in work at the time, pauses till he has read the whole of the first section. So also, artizans intermit their tasks while reciting the first section, so that their reading of the Shema shall not be perfunctory. The rest of the Shema, everyone reads, continuing his task in the meanwhile. Even if one is standing on the top of a tree or on a wall, he reads the Shema in that place, reciting there also the preceding and succeeding blessings.

ה הָיָה עוֹסֵק בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה וְהִגִּיעַ זְמַן קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע פּוֹסֵק וְקוֹרֵא וּמְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ. הָיָה עוֹסֵק בְּצָרְכֵי רַבִּים לֹא יִפְסֹק אֶלָּא יִגְמֹר עִסְקֵיהֶן וְיִקְרָא אִם נִשְׁאָר עֵת לִקְרוֹת:

5 If one was engaged in the study of the Torah and the time has come to read the Shema, he intermits his study, reads the Shema and recites the blessings before and after it. If one was engaged in public duties, he should not stop but complete them, and then read the Shema if there is still time to do so.

ו הָיָה עוֹסֵק בַּאֲכִילָה אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה בַּמֶּרְחָץ אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה עוֹסֵק בְּתִסְפֹּרֶת אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה מְהַפֵּךְ בְּעוֹרוֹת אוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹסְקִין בַּדִּין גּוֹמֵר וְאַחַר כָּךְ קוֹרֵא קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע. וְאִם הָיָה מִתְיָרֵא שֶׁמָּא יַעֲבֹר זְמַן קְרִיאָה וּפָסַק וְקָרָא הֲרֵי זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח:

6 If one was eating, bathing, trimming his hair, turning hides in a tannery or hearing a trial in court, he finishes the matter in hand and then recites the Shema. If, fearing that the time for reading the Shema might pass, he interrupted the work on which he was engaged and read the Shema, he is accounted praiseworthy.

ז מִי שֶׁיָּרַד לִטְבּל אִם יָכוֹל לַעֲלוֹת וּלְהִתְכַּסּוֹת קֹדֶם שֶׁתָּנֵץ הַחַמָּה יַעֲלֶה וְיִתְכַּסֶּה וְיִקְרָא. וְאִם הָיָה מִתְיָרֵא שֶׁמָּא תָּנֵץ הַחַמָּה קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּקְרָא יִתְכַּסֶּה בַּמַּיִם שֶׁהוּא עוֹמֵד בָּהֶן וְיִקְרָא. וְלֹא יִתְכַּסֶּה לֹא בַּמַּיִם הָרָעִים שֶׁרֵיחָן רַע וְלֹא בְּמֵי הַמִּשְׁרֶה וְלֹא בְּמַיִם צְלוּלִין מִפְּנֵי שֶׁעֶרְוָתוֹ נִרְאֵית בָּהֶן. אֲבָל מִתְכַּסֶּה הוּא בְּמַיִם עֲכוּרִין שֶׁאֵין רֵיחָן רַע וְקוֹרֵא בִּמְקוֹמוֹ:

7 If one who had gone to take a ritual bath has time to come up from the bath and dress before the sun rises, he should do so and recite the Shema. If he feared that the sun would have risen before he was ready, he should immerse his body in the water in which he is standing and read the Shema. He must not do so in water so foul that it has a bad odor, nor in water that has been used for soaking flax nor in water that is so clear that the lower part of his body would be visible. But he may immerse his body in turbid water that has no offensive odor and read the Shema in the place where he stands.

ח הַקּוֹרֵא קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע לֹא יִרְמֹז בְּעֵינָיו וְלֹא יִקְרֹץ בִּשְׂפָתָיו וְלֹא יַרְאֶה בְּאֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִּהְיֶה קְרִיאָתוֹ עַרְאַי. וְאִם עָשָׂה כֵּן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיָּצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה מְגֻנֶּה. וְצָרִיךְ לְהַשְׁמִיעַ לְאָזְנוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא קוֹרֵא וְאִם לֹא הִשְׁמִיעַ לְאָזְנוֹ יָצָא. וְצָרִיךְ לְדַקְדֵּק בְּאוֹתִיּוֹתָיו וְאִם לֹא דִּקְדֵּק יָצָא:

8 While reading the Shema, one must not wink with the eyes, signal with the lips, or point with the fingers, so that his recital shall not be perfunctory. If he did any of these things, he has, though fulfilling his duty, been guilty of unbecoming conduct. A person should read the Shema so that the words are audible to himself. If he has not done so, he has nevertheless fulfilled his duty. He should enunciate the letters distinctly. If he has not done so, he has nevertheless fulfilled his duty.

ט כֵּיצַד יְדַקְדֵּק. יִשְׁמֹר שֶׁלֹּא יַרְפֶּה הֶחָזָק וְלֹא יַחֲזִיק הֲרָפֶה וְלֹא יָנִיחַ הַנָּד וְלֹא יָנִיד הַנָּח. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לִתֵּן רֶוַח בֵּין הַדְּבָקִים בֵּין כָּל שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת הַדּוֹמוֹת שֶׁאַחַת מֵהֶן סוֹף תֵּבָה וְהָאַחֶרֶת תְּחִלַּת תֵּבָה הַסְּמוּכָה לָהּ. כְּגוֹן בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ קוֹרֵא בְּכָל וְשׁוֹהֶה וְחוֹזֵר וְקוֹרֵא לְבָבְךָ. וְכֵן וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה. הַכָּנָף פְּתִיל. וְצָרִיךְ לְבָאֵר זַיִ״ן שֶׁל תִּזְכְּרוּ. וְצָרִיךְ לְהַאֲרִיךְ בְּדָלֶ״ת שֶׁל אֶחָד כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּמְלִיכֵהוּ בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ וּבְאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת. וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁלֹּא יַחְטֹף בַּחֵי״ת כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא כְּאוֹמֵר אֵי חָד:

9 How should care be exercised in enunciation? One should take heed not to sound a letter with a strong Dagesh as if it were without such a Dagesh, nor a letter without a strong Dagesh as though it had such a Dagesh; nor sound a letter with a Sheva mobile as if it were immobile, nor, vice versa, sound a letter with a Sheva immobile as if it were mobile. Hence also, a pause should be made between two words, where the first of the two words ends with the letter with which the one immediately following it begins. For example, in reading the words Bechol levavcha, a pause should be made after the word Bechol, before reading levavcha. The same practice should be observed in the case of Va-avadtem meherah and Hacanaf pesil; so too the zain in tizkeru should be pronounced distinctly. One should dwell on the Daleth in Ehad a sufficiently long interval to enable one to acclaim God as Sovereign in Heaven and on Earth and towards the four cardinal points of the compass. The Heth in Ehad should not be pronounced hurriedly, for then the word would sound Ee had.

י קוֹרֵא אָדָם אֶת שְׁמַע בְּכָל לָשׁוֹן שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מְבִינָהּ. וְהַקּוֹרֵא בְּכָל לָשׁוֹן צָרִיךְ לְהִזָּהֵר מִדִּבְרֵי שִׁבּוּשׁ שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ הַלָּשׁוֹן וּמְדַקְדֵּק בְּאוֹתוֹ הַלָּשׁוֹן כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּדַקְדֵּק בִּלְשׁוֹן הַקֹּדֶשׁ:

10 A person may recite the Shema in any language that he understands. And if one reads the Shema in a secular language, he must take care to avoid errors in that language, and be as scrupulous in correctly enunciating the Shema in that language as he would be if he were reading it in the Sacred Tongue.

יא הַקּוֹרֵא לְמַפְרֵעַ לֹא יָצָא. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּסֵדֶר הַפְּסוּקִים אֲבָל אִם הִקְדִּים פָּרָשָׁה לְפָרָשָׁה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ רַשַּׁאי אֲנִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁיָּצָא לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָהּ סְמוּכָה לָהּ בַּתּוֹרָה. קָרָא פָּסוּק וְחָזַר וּקְרָאוֹ פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה הֲרֵי זֶה מְגֻנֶּה. קָרָא מִלָּה אַחַת וּכְפָלָהּ כְּגוֹן שֶׁקָּרָא שְׁמַע שְׁמַע מְשַׁתְּקִין אוֹתוֹ:

11 One who reads the Shema, but not in the correct sequence has not fulfilled his duty. This only refers to the recital of the verses out of their correct order. But if one reads a later section before the one that should have preceded it, though this is not permissible, still, in my opinion, he has fulfilled his duty, on the ground that these sections do not immediately follow each other in the Torah. To recite a verse and then reiterate it is unseemly. But if one reads a word and then repeats it, for instance, if one reads Shema, Shema, he is silenced.

יב קְרָאָהּ סֵרוּגִין יָצָא. אֲפִלּוּ שָׁהָה בֵּין סֵרוּג לְסֵרוּג כְּדֵי לִגְמֹר אֶת כֻּלָּהּ יָצָא. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּקְרָא עַל הַסֵּדֶר. קְרָאָהּ מִתְנַמְנֵם וְהוּא מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ עֵר וְלֹא נִרְדָּם בְּשֵׁנָה יָצָא. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עֵר בְּפָסוּק רִאשׁוֹן:

12 One who reads the Shema but not continuously, has done his duty, even if he paused between the reading of one section and the next so long that he might have concluded the whole of it, provided that he reads the verses in the right order. If one reads the Shema when one is drowsy, not fully awake nor yet fast asleep, he has fulfilled his duty, provided that he is awake while reading the first verse.

יג סָפֵק קָרָא קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע סָפֵק לֹא קָרָא חוֹזֵר וְקוֹרֵא וּמְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ. אֲבָל אִם יָדַע שֶׁקָּרָא וְנִסְתַּפֵּק לוֹ אִם בֵּרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ אוֹ לֹא בֵּרֵךְ אֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר וּמְבָרֵךְ. קָרָא וְטָעָה יַחֲזֹר לַמָּקוֹם שֶׁטָּעָה. נֶעֱלַם מִמֶּנּוּ בֵּין פָּרָשָׁה לְפָרָשָׁה וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ אֵי זוֹ פָּרָשָׁה הִשְׁלִים וְאֵי זוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַתְחִיל חוֹזֵר לְפָרָשָׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁהוּא (דברים ו ה) ״וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה׳‎ אֱלֹהֶיךָ״ וְגוֹ׳‎:

13 If a person is in doubt whether he has read the Shema or not, he should read it again and recite the blessings that precede and follow it. But if one is certain that he read the Shema and is in doubt only whether he recited the blessings that precede and follow it, he should not read the blessings. If, while reading the Shema, he made a mistake, he should go back to the place where he had made the mistake. If between one section and another, he forgot and did not know which section he had completed and which he had to begin, he should go back to the first section, namely to the verse, "Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God."

יד טָעָה בְּאֶמְצַע הַפֶּרֶק וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לְהֵיכָן פָּסַק חוֹזֵר לְרֹאשׁ הַפֶּרֶק. הָיָה קוֹרֵא וּכְתַבְתָּם וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ אִם הוּא בְּוּכְתַבְתָּם שֶׁל שְׁמַע אוֹ בְּוּכְתַבְתָּם שֶׁבִּוְהָיָה אִם שָׁמוֹעַ חוֹזֵר לְוּכְתַבְתָּם שֶׁל שְׁמַע. וְאִם נִסְתַּפֵּק לוֹ אַחַר שֶׁקָּרָא לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם אֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר שֶׁעַל הֶרְגֵּל לְשׁוֹנוֹ הוּא הוֹלֵךְ:

14 If one made a mistake in the middle of a section and does not know where he paused, he should return to the beginning of the section. If one recited the word U-chesavtom ("And thou shalt write them") and is uncertain as to whether it is the word in the first, or in the second section, he is to return to this word in the first section. But if the doubt arises after he had already read the phrase Lemaan Yirbu Yemechem ("That your days may be multiplied") he is not to go back, as it may be assumed that he has read regularly in the way his tongue is accustomed to do.

טו הָיָה קוֹרֵא וּפָגַע בַּאֲחֵרִים אוֹ פָּגְעוּ בּוֹ אֲחֵרִים. אִם הָיָה בֵּין פֶּרֶק לְפֶרֶק פּוֹסֵק וּמַתְחִיל וְשׁוֹאֵל שְׁלוֹם מִי שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב בִּכְבוֹדוֹ כְּגוֹן שֶׁפָּגַע בְּאָבִיו אוֹ רַבּוֹ אוֹ מִי שֶׁהוּא גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ בְּחָכְמָה. וּמֵשִׁיב שָׁלוֹם לְכָל אָדָם שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ שָׁלוֹם:

15 A person, while reading the Shema, met other people or was accosted by them. If at that moment, he had already concluded one section and not yet begun the next, he pauses and salutes anyone whom it is his duty to show honour to, e.g. a father, teacher, or superior in learning. And he returns the greeting of anyone who first saluted him.

טז הָיָה קוֹרֵא בְּאֶמְצַע הַפָּרָשָׁה אֵינוֹ פּוֹסֵק וּמַתְחִיל לִשְׁאל אֶלָּא בִּשְׁלוֹם מִי שֶׁהוּא מִתְיָרֵא מִמֶּנּוּ כְּגוֹן מֶלֶךְ אוֹ אַנָּס וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן. אֲבָל מִי שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב בִּכְבוֹדוֹ כְּגוֹן אָבִיו אוֹ רַבּוֹ אִם נָתַן לוֹ שָׁלוֹם תְּחִלָּה פּוֹסֵק וּמֵשִׁיב לוֹ שָׁלוֹם:

16 If he was, at the time, in the middle of a section, he only pauses to salute one of whom he stands in awe, e.g. a king or a tyrannical individual, etc. And if one entitled to honour, e.g. a father or teacher, greets him first, he pauses to return the greeting.

יז וְאֵלּוּ הֵן בֵּין הַפְּרָקִים. בֵּין בְּרָכָה רִאשׁוֹנָה לַשְּׁנִיָּה. בֵּין שְׁנִיָּה לִשְׁמַע. בֵּין שְׁמַע לִוְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ. בֵּין וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ לְוַיֹּאמֶר. בֵּין הַפְּרָקִים הָאֵלּוּ שׁוֹאֵל מִפְּנֵי הַכָּבוֹד וּמֵשִׁיב שָׁלוֹם לְכָל אָדָם. אֲבָל בֵּין וַיֹּאמֶר לֶאֱמֶת וְיַצִּיב הֲרֵי זֶה כְּאֶמְצַע הַפֶּרֶק וְלֹא יַפְסִיק אֶלָּא לִשְׁאל מִפְּנֵי הַיִּרְאָה וּלְהָשִׁיב מִפְּנֵי הַכָּבוֹד:

17 The divisions between the sections are as follows: Between the first blessing and the second; between the second blessing and the Shema; between the first section and second section of the Shema; between the second and third section of the Shema. One reading the Shema, when reaching these places, greets one whom it is his duty to honour, and acknowledges the greeting of anyone who first salutes him. But the conclusion of the third section and the opening words of the subsequent blessing are regarded as the middle of a section. One may only pause there either to salute a person of whom one stands in awe or to return the greetings of a person whom it is one's duty to honour.

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