The Mitzvah of Krias Shema

The mitzvah of Krias Shema is a positive commandment from the Torah that expresses acceptance of the yoke of Heaven by the one who recites it.

Krias Shema includes three parshiyos: the parshah of "Shema", the parshah of "V'haya Im Shamoa", and the parshah of Tzitzis, and it is recited twice daily: in the morning and evening.

When saying the verse "Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad", it is customary to cover the eyes with the right hand in order to remove distractions from one's surroundings and focus full attention on the content of the verse, which forms the foundation of Jewish faith.

Krias Shema in Pnimiyus HaTorah

In the order of davening, Krias Shema comes after Pesukei D'Zimra and the blessings of "Yotzer Ohr" and "Ahavas Olam", so that through contemplation of Pesukei D'Zimra and these blessings, one can reach self-sacrifice in the first verse of Krias Shema.

The Zohar HaKadosh explains the verse "I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey" as referring to Krias Shema.

The explanation for this is that the time of Krias Shema is a time for contemplation of Elokus, which brings wonderful pleasure. This concept is also alluded to in the verse "V'ahavta es Hashem Elokecha", where Elokus becomes for the person an expansion of the heart and pleasure, affecting the three garments of the soul - thought, speech, and action - "u'vchol nafshecha".

In Krias Shema, three parshiyos are recited: the parshah of "V'ahavta", the parshah of "V'haya Im Shamoa", and the parshah of Tzitzis. It is explained that the parshah of "V'ahavta" is in the aspect of Chesed, while the parshah of "V'haya Im Shamoa" is in the aspect of Gevurah. Nevertheless, it is explained that the parshah of "V'ahavta" is in the aspect of the name of Ma"v (42), which is a name of Gevurah, and the parshah of "V'haya Im Shamoa" is in the aspect of the name of A"v (72), which is in the aspect of Chesed. This is explained as the concept of "exchanging places", where the lights of Gevurah are in vessels of Chesed, and the lights of Chesed are in vessels of Gevurah.

In the order of davening, Krias Shema corresponds to the world of Beriah, and the Shemoneh Esrei that follows corresponds to the world of Atzilus.

Saying "Hashem Elokeichem Emes"

In the morning Krias Shema that some say before davening - to fulfill the obligation of Krias Shema in its proper time - they also repeat the three words "Hashem Elokeichem Emes". In the Krias Shema of Tefillin of Rabbeinu Tam and Shimisha Rabba, they don't repeat these words, but they do say "Emes".

See Also

• Krias Shema Ketana
• Krias Shema She'al HaMitah