Dear Rabbi Simon
If I oversleep and start my davening after z’man Keriyat Shema (latest time for morning Shema), do I omit the blessings of the Shema (two before and one after) since the time for fulfilling the mitzvah has passed? Ie, would these be “blessings in vain” (berachot le-vatalah)?
In that case, in the summer Shabbatot when I need to recite Shema before tefillah, and then repeat it later with a minyan (or on my own, as the case may be), it seems as if my first Shema ‘counts’ and the 2nd one then feels less important because it’s after the designated time. For this reason, saying the blessings seems out of place. I guess I know we still say them, but I wonder why there is this leniency. Should we not be meticulous to say the 3 brachot + Shema at start of davening?
Thanks
Shimi
Dear Shimi,
Thank you for your pertinent question, particularly as the time for morning Shema is quite early during these summer weeks of the year. [Eg 8:51am during much of June, according to the later opinion. The more stringent view: 8:15am.]
The Sh”A (OH 58:6) indicates that one who has not recited Shema before the end of the third hour (=1/4 of the day) should still do so, with the blessings (2 before and 1 after) until the end of the 4th hour (=1/3 of the day). The Mishnah Berurah clarifies that this is certainly also the case for one who has already recited Shema earlier. The explanation is that the blessings of Shema are not formulated explicitly as a blessing on the mitzvah of reciting Shema, but rather have the status of tefillah, ie prelude to the Amidah itself. (Indeed, the concluding blessing of “Redeemer of Israel” is the important prelude to turning to G-d in prayer=Amidah.) It is interesting to note, however, that the M”B also cites an opinion that disputes this and maintains that one who has recited Shema in its proper time already need not/should not say the blessings of the Shema subsequently. (This is in accordance with the sentiment you express in your question.) The standard practice is clearly in accordance with the first view.
Parenthetically, it is worth noting that after the fourth hour (ie, one-third of the day), however, one should definitely not say the blessings of Shema. This halakhah is habitually violated by those who begin Shacharit on Shabbos at 10:00am.
Best wishes
Rabbi Rashi Simon