Torah.org Home Subscribe Services Support Us
 
Print Version

Email this article to a friend
Rambam

Rambam

Rabbi Yitzchok Etshalom
Kriat Shema 1:05

5. The person reading K'riat Sh'ma blesses [God] beforehand and afterwards. During the day, he makes two blessings beforehand and one afterwards. At night, he makes two blessings beforehand and two afterwards.

Q1: Why does Rambam tell us the number of B'rakhot (blessings) recited at each time of K'riat Sh'ma? - in the next Halakha, he will briefly describe each one; we could figure out how many there are from there.

A: The number has its own significance - either because of "seven praises for God" to be recited daily, or else to make the "meditations" of day and night equal. (Yerushalmi)

Q2: Why are there two B'rakhot beforehand both times, but the number changes afterwards between daytime and nighttime?

A: Again, either to complete the "seven praises" - or to add an extra unit to the nighttime (B'rakhot + ) K'riat Sh'ma. As to why the additions are made after K'riat Sh'ma and not before, it may be that

Q3: What is the function of these B'rakhot? Are they associated with the Mitzva of K'riat Sh'ma - just as we make a B'rakha before doing other Mitzvot? Are they contextually appropriate around K'riat Sh'ma?

Rambam, Copyright (c) 1999 Project Genesis, Inc.

Please Support TORAH.ORG
Print Version       Email this article to a friend

 

ARTICLES ON NASO:

View Complete List

Priestly Pipeline
Rabbi Pinchas Winston - 5767

Domestic Harmony and National Peace
Rabbi Yissocher Frand - 5755

A Little Peace in Our Time
Jon Erlbaum - 0

ArtScroll

Be Committed
Shlomo Katz - 5773

Learned From Their Mistakes
Rabbi Yaakov Menken - 5764

If not for the Torah . . .
Shlomo Katz - 5772

Frumster - Orthodox Jewish Dating

Speak It Out
Rabbi Eliyahu Hoffmann - 5769

Levi-like Actions
Rabbi Pinchas Winston - 5772

Channels of a Different Type
Rabbi Pinchas Winston - 5758

Looking for a Chavrusah?

Holy Heart
Rabbi Pinchas Winston - 5764

A Mouthful to Swallow
Rabbi Pinchas Winston - 5757

The Common Denominator Between Long Hair and A Shaven Head
- 5769

> Spies and Stones - The Shepherd Sticks with His Flock
Rabbi Eliyahu Hoffmann - 5766

Naturally Divine
Rabbi Aron Tendler - 5764

An Uplifting Experience
Rabbi Eliyahu Hoffmann - 5760

The Source of All Blessing
Rabbi Dovid Green - 5758



Project Genesis

Torah.org Home


Torah Portion

Jewish Law

Ethics

Texts

Learn the Basics

Seasons

Features

TORAHAUDIO

Ask The Rabbi

Knowledge Base




Help

About Us

Contact Us



Free Book on Geulah!




Torah.org Home
Torah.org HomeCapalon.com Copyright Information