{"id":6183,"date":"2010-01-11T11:00:44","date_gmt":"2010-01-11T09:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=6183"},"modified":"2018-05-24T11:32:18","modified_gmt":"2018-05-24T08:32:18","slug":"02-11-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/02-11-11\/","title":{"rendered":"11 – The Practical Halachah Regarding the Final Time to Recite Shema and Pray the Amidah"},"content":{"rendered":"
The time to recite Keriat Shema<\/i> lasts for the first three hours of the day, for until then people are still waking up. In that way, one indeed fulfills the mitzvah of reciting Shema<\/i> \u201cu\u2019vekumecha<\/i>,\u201d (\u201cwhen you get up\u201d) \u2013 when people wake from their sleep. Most poskim<\/i> favor the opinion of the Gra<\/i>. However, regarding Keriat Shema<\/i>, whose time is biblical, it is correct to be stringent like the Magen Avraham<\/i>, in accordance with the rule, \u201csefeika d\u2019oraita l\u2019chumra<\/i>\u201d (\u201cWhen there is uncertainty concerning biblical commandments we are stringent.\u201d) Nevertheless, there are those who are accustomed l’chatchilah<\/i> to follow the Gra<\/i>\u2019s approach, and one should not oppose this custom.<\/p>\n
Even though the time of Keriat Shema<\/i> only lasts three hours, if the third hour passed and one did not recite it, he must recite it with its blessings sometime within the fourth hour, and he is merited for reciting it like one who reads from the Torah (Shulchan Aruch<\/i> 58:6).<\/p>\n
The time of the Shacharit<\/i> prayer and Birkot Keriat Shema<\/i> lasts for four hours, for the Chachamim<\/i> established its time corresponding to the Tamid<\/i> offering which was brought until the end of the fourth hour of the day. Since its obligation is rabbinic, the halachah is lenient and allows us to rely upon the Gra<\/i>\u2019s approach and to pray later. Even so, l’chatchilah<\/i>, those who are expeditious fulfill their obligations early. Therefore, it is good to follow the approach of the Magen Avraham<\/i> and pray early (Mishnah Berurah<\/i> 58:4).[15]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n If four hours passed and one did not yet recite Birkot Keriat Shema<\/i> nor pray the Amidah<\/i>, it is agreed that he may pray the Amidah<\/i> until chatzot<\/i>. Although the halachah follows Rabbi Yehudah who rules that the time of Shacharit<\/i> is until the end of four hours, and does not follow the opinion of the Chachamim<\/i> who maintain that the time is until chatzot<\/i>, nevertheless, even Rabbi Yehudah admits that one who did not pray before four hours lapsed may, b\u2019dieved<\/i>, complete his prayer until chatzot<\/i>. Although he is not merited for praying on time, he does receive merit for his prayer. One may not pray Shacharit<\/i> after chatzot<\/i> (Berachot<\/i> 27a; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim<\/i> 89:1).[16]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Regarding Birkot Keriat Shema<\/i>, the poskim<\/i> disagree. According to the Shulchan Aruch<\/i> (58:6) and most poskim<\/i>, Chazal<\/i> are only lenient concerning the Amidah<\/i> and permit one to recite it until chatzot<\/i>. The reason for this is that, in principle, a person is allowed to pray Shemoneh Esrei<\/i> as a voluntary prayer (tefillat nedavah<\/i>) at any time. Therefore, in any situation of uncertainty, one may pray. However, Birkot Keriat Shema <\/i>may not be recited as a voluntary prayer. Hence, one who was late and did not recite them within the first four hours of the day cannot regain them. According to the Mishnah Berurah<\/i>, if his reason for missing their recital was due to circumstances beyond his control, he is permitted to recite them until chatzot<\/i> (Bei\u2019ur Halachah<\/i> there).[17]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n
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