Kerias Shema Twice At Night?
‘When One Reads Shema’
(Berachos 8b)
Our Gemara develops a most interesting halacha. The fixed times for kerias shema in the evening and morning are clearly defined. Opinions differ as to the time limits for the mitzvah. Our Gemara explores whether a person who could not recite the evening shema in its proper time can say it later, until sunrise. The Gemara also wonders whether a person who will not be able to recite the morning shema in its proper time can say it earlier, starting at alos hashachar (see Mechaber Orach Chayim 58:4). It thus appears that the time between alos hashachar and sunrise is acceptable for both the night and morning shema!
Rishonim discuss whether a person who is unable to recite the evening and morning shemas in their proper time can say both of them between alos hashachar and sunrise. The Mechaber rules (O.C. 58:5, see Mishnah Berurah, s.k. 21) that he may not. He writes: “Since he made that time night [by saying the night shema after alos hashachar], he is now unable to make it day.”
Saying The Night Shema While Wearing Tefillin
Everyone knows Ulla’s statement (infra. 14b) “that he who recites shema without wearing tefillin is as though he bears false testimony.” This only pertains to the morning shema as we do not put on tefillin at night. But what if someone says the night shema after alos hashachar? Should he put on tefillin to avoid bearing false testimony? Or perhaps, since he’s saying the night shema, which if recited in its original time is not accompanied with tefillin, he should not.
The Or Sameach (Hilchos Kerias Shema 1:10) leans toward the opinion that he should not wear tefillin while the Mareh Kohen rules that he should.
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