Dose of Halacha

Question: In the Summer, I typically daven Shacharis too late to recite the Shema before it is too late. Do I need to say all three paragraphs before Shacharis, or just the first line? Answer: The Mishna (Berachos 9b) teaches that there is a machlokes regarding the latest time to recite the Shema. The Gemara (Berachos 10b) clarifies that the halacha follows R’ Yehoshua, who states that it must be recited before the ‘third hour’. There is a machlokes between the Magen Avraham and the Vilna Gaon as to how to calculate this time (see Mishna Berura 58:4). The Gemara (Berachos 13a) further teaches that one is obligates to recite three paragraphs when reciting the Shema. However, there is a machlokes among the rishonim as to whether reciting all three is a chiyuv mideoraisa. Ramban ( Milchamos Hashem, Rosh Hashana 7a) and the Sefer Hachinuch (420) write that only the first passuk is mideoraisa , while Rashi (Berachos 20b) and the Yereim (13) maintain that the entire first paragr...

Question: When we take Shabbos in early during the summer, should we recite kerias shema before birkas hamazon on Friday night, or wait until after the meal? Answer : The Shulchan Aruch (OC 235:2) writes that one must not sit down for a meal within half an hour of tzeis hakochavim , nightfall. If one did so, they must stop to recite kerias shema , though one can wait to say the rest of maariv . The Mishna Berura (235:21) explains that one would only need to stop eating for mitzvos mideoraisa . As the berachos of Shema are miderabbanan , one can wait to recite them. Thus, the Rema (OC 489:4) writes that one who started the meal within half an hour of nacht must also interrupt to count the omer as there are rishonim who maintain that it is a mitzva mideoraisa even nowadays (See Mishna Berura 489:25). Rambam (Kerias Shema 2:6) writes that it is praiseworthy to recite the shema in the middle of their meal if one is concerned that it will be too late to recite it afterwards (Se...