Today’s Daf Session is sponsored by
Mr. and Mrs. Eli and Leba Weissmann, Clifton NJ
In this session we will explore the power of the Bedtime Shema, and the verses which are recited to accompany it. 
Also, we will discuss the halachic importance of the Bedtime Shema in that it is said at night, in contrast to the Shema of the evening service which is sometimes recited before nightfall.
For Hebrew text in pdf please click here
Quick Review:
Reasons for bedtime Shema: ensure reciting shema after nightfall, protection of shema or of any Torah
How much required to say to fulfill mitzvah: first paragraph, or all three and Keil melech neeman
Quality of a Talmid Chochom: always reviewing Torah learning
Torah called “Uf” like bird flying away: unless constantly reviewing
Points you don’t want to miss:
When the Talmud (4b) contrasts a person who comes home, eats a little, rests a little, and may fall asleep without daveing Maariv, with a person who goes to shul after work, learns and davens, and then goes home to eat, the Talmud describes his meal as “He eats bread, and recites the blessing.” Apparently, one of the contrasts which the Talmud finds worthy of mentioning is that he will recite Birchas Hamazon. This is something to consider in our culture that views eating bread as an inconvenience as it requires extra blessings. The Talmud viewed as part of the wonderful benefits to the person of routine, who goes to shul, learns and davens, and then sist down to a proper meal.
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Why, in Ashrei, is there no stanza for the letter “Nun”? The Talmud explains (4b) that it would be the stanza describing the fall of the Jewish people, so Dovid omitted it.
Superficially, one can ask, “Is there no other word that starts with the letter ‘Nun’ that could be used?”
A careful read of Ashrei reveals that the stanza was meant to make reference to “Nofal- Falling,” as we see the next stanza is “Someich” that Hashem supports the Jewish people, and lifts them up. Alphabetic poetry in Tehillim is not simply about writing a stanza that starts with the next letter of the Aleph-Bais. There is a greater message and sequence which is the intent of the chapter.
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Since those that study Torah are exempt
From saying bedtime Shema, is learning Torah and becoming a scholar the inspiration and aspiration of saying this Shema?
That is a fascinating perspective, Ana.
Interestingly, as a matter of practice, even Torah scholars who have just spent hours in study, will still recite the bedtime Shema with some brief additions, as the Talmud passage advises. But, indeed, they might not recite the full routine of Bedtime Service, as others do. Certainly, when one says the words of Shema, “Vishinantom,” commanding us that we and are children should be proficient in Torah, we should say it also as a prayer, yearning to fulfill that directive.
Thanks for sharing! Best wishes!
If one davens maariv before nightfall and needs to repeat Kriah Sh’ma, can you l’chatchila rely on the bedtime sh’ma or is it better to say it earlier in order to fulfill the principle of doing mitzvos at the earliest possible time, or zrizim makdimim l’mitzvot?
Thanks.
Great point Ken! Rashi in the beginning of the Mesechta writes that one can fulfill the Mitzva (to repeat Shema at the proper time) by reciting the bedtime Shema. On a practical level, however, one is not supposed to get involved in other things before doing this important Mitzva. So we do not wait for bedtime to fulfill the Mitzva, but rather repeat Shema once nightfall occurs, as early as possible. (It is possible that Rashi was describing a culture where the average person didn’t stay up that much later than nightfall, so the routine of reciting Shema before bedtime was considered acceptable.)