Berachos 13b

ברכות י״ג ע״ב

Berakhot 13b

Learn Berachos 13b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 13b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How much of קריאת שמע needs כוונה, the special status of the first פסוק, body position while saying שמע, and greeting people during it

Overview

This amud asks how much of קריאת שמע needs כוונה. רבי יוחנן rules that the first paragraph needs it, in two versions that agree in practice. רב זוטרא and רבי יאשיה argue about which paragraph needs כוונה and which needs reading, and the גמרא defends each view against challenges from the פסוקים. רבא rules like רבי מאיר, who says only the first פסוק needs כוונה. The גמרא then teaches how to draw out the word אחד, and argues about how much of שמע must be said standing in place. Stories about רבי, רב נחמן and רבה show that the first פסוק alone fulfills the basic obligation. Next comes the rule against saying שמע while lying on one's back. The amud ends by explaining the משנה's rules for greeting people during שמע, where רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה disagree.

Opening lines

The steps (49)

1. Proofרבי עקיבא's proof that the whole section needs intent
2. Statementרבי יוחנן rules like רבי עקיבא
3. StatementA second version: a different teaching about intent
4. ConclusionIn the second version, רבי יוחנן rules like רבי אחא
5. Statementשמע may not be read out of order
6. Statementרב זוטרא and רבי יאשיה disagree about intent and reading
7. ChallengeWhy Only Reading After 'On Your Heart'?
8. ResolutionFirst Part Needs Both Intent and Reading
9. ChallengeThe Second Section Also Says 'On Your Heart'
10. ResolutionThat Verse Teaches About Placing תפילין
11. ChallengeWhy should only the second paragraph need intent?
12. ResolutionRe-explaining רבי יאשיה: the first paragraph needs both
13. ChallengeThe second paragraph also says 'to speak of them'
14. Resolution'To speak of them' in the second paragraph is about teaching Torah
15. Statementרבי מאיר: Only the first verse needs focused intent
16. Conclusionרבא rules like רבי מאיר
17. Statementסומכוס: Drawing out the word אחד brings long life
18. Statementרב אחא בר יעקב: Draw out the ד
19. Statementרב אשי: Don't rush the ח
20. Statementרבי ירמיה: You don't need to stretch it too long
21. Statementרב יהודה: "On your heart" while standing
22. ChallengeCan it really mean just those two words?
23. ResolutionCorrected reading: Stand until "on your heart"
24. Statementרבי יוחנן: The whole paragraph while standing
25. Statementרבי יוחנן is consistent with his ruling elsewhere
26. Statementרבי's שמע was just the first verse
27. Questionרב never saw רבי accept the kingship of Heaven
28. Responseרבי said it while passing his hands over his face
29. QuestionDid רבי finish שמע later?
30. Responseבר קפרא and רבי שמעון ברבי disagree
31. ChallengeWhy would רבי look for a topic about leaving Egypt?
32. ResolutionTo mention leaving Egypt at the right time
33. StatementSaying the first פסוק and then falling asleep is enough
34. Proofרב נחמן asks his servant to wake him only for the first פסוק
35. Proofרבה also pushed himself only for the first פסוק
36. StatementOne lying on his back may not say שמע
37. ChallengeIs sleeping on your back allowed?
38. ResolutionTilted to the side: sleeping is fine, saying שמע is not
39. ChallengeBut רבי יוחנן said שמע while tilted
40. Resolutionרבי יוחנן was a special case because he was heavy
41. StatementQuoting the משנה about greeting at the breaks
42. QuestionResponding for what reason?
43. ResponseOne may answer anyone's greeting at the breaks
44. ChallengeNow look at the second clause
45. QuestionResponding in the middle, for what reason?
46. ResponseIn the middle, one answers out of respect
47. ChallengeNow רבי מאיר sounds just like רבי יהודה
48. ResolutionThe משנה is missing words: רבי מאיר's full view
49. Resolutionרבי יהודה's view: in the middle, answer even out of respect