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What happens if someone recites evening Shema after midnight - do they say the blessings or not? The shiur develops Rabbeinu Yonah's two approaches to show that the answer depends on whether Shema's blessings are independent obligations or accessories to the mitzvah (מצוה) itself.
This shiur provides an in-depth analysis of Brachos 2a, beginning with an examination of the timing for evening Shema recitation and its blessings. Rabbi Zweig explores a fundamental disagreement between Rashi (רש"י) and the Rambam (רמב"ם) regarding the Mishna's statement about when various mitzvos must be completed by midnight. The Rambam maintains that sacrificial offerings (hekter chalavim v'eivarim) can be offered all night until dawn, with the Sages establishing midnight as a protective measure. Rashi, however, argues this isn't the Mishna's intent and introduces complex interpretations about the nature of the prohibitions involved. A critical discussion emerges around Rabbeinu Yonah's two interpretations of what happens when one reads Shema after midnight: either one recites Shema without its blessings, or there's no fulfillment of the mitzvah (מצוה) at all, yet one still recites both Shema and blessings. This leads to fundamental questions about the relationship between the mitzvah of Shema and its accompanying blessings. The shiur examines Rashi's position that sacrificial offerings mentioned in the Mishna apply throughout the night based on a separate Mishna in Megillah, creating what appears to be a contradiction with the simple reading of our Mishna. Rabbi Zweig analyzes the Gemara (גמרא)'s discussion of reciting Shema before nightfall in synagogue, which Rashi explains as learning Torah (תורה) rather than fulfilling the mitzvah. This raises questions about when and how one fulfills the actual mitzvah of evening Shema and its blessings. Tosafos (תוספות) adds complexity by questioning why, if one hasn't fulfilled Shema earlier, one wouldn't need to recite all the standard blessings when finally performing the mitzvah at night. The shiur explores the concept of semichat geulah l'tefillah (juxtaposing redemption to prayer) and whether this requires actual fulfillment of the Shema mitzvah or merely recitation of the relevant passages. Throughout, Rabbi Zweig demonstrates the intricate relationships between timing, intention, and obligation in Jewish law, showing how seemingly simple questions about when to recite Shema reveal profound principles about the nature of mitzvah fulfillment and rabbinic enactments.
Brachos 2a
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