Bed time Shema

Posted: Wed, Jun 20 2012, 5:09 am Post subject: Bed time Shema

Do we have to say the bed time Shema sitting up?

Do you cover your hair when you say it?

Posted: Wed, Jun 20 2012, 10:37 am Post subject: re: Bed time Shema

I learned:
no
no
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"You will have many many children and make successful shidduchim beh", rebbetzin Esther Jungreis
"It's all cultural, disagree respectfully", me

Posted: Wed, Jun 27 2012, 11:17 am Post subject: re: Bed time Shema

On a personal level I always cover my hair for any Tefilah and I find it easier to say bed Time Shema sitting or standing because I have previously said it lying down and fallen asleep before I finished!
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Debbie,
Nobody notices what I do
Until I don't do it!

Beginner Joined: Mar 11 2011 Posts: 18

Though it may make women more comfortable covering their hair while reciting brachot and performing mitzvot (think: lighting candles Friday night), there is no halachik basis for it--it is more of a minhag. It is possible that the minhag originated from the Sefardi law that women--even single girls--must cover their heads during birchat ha-mazon, shema and shemone esrey. However, even this is not upheld (for single women, that is).

According to halacha, a woman (unlike a man) does not need a separation between her upper and lower body as female genitals are hidden and cannot be seen. This only applies when a woman is seated (see Shulchan Aruch OC 74:4, Rama and MB).

Though the logic makes sense as the positioning of male and female genitalia are quite different, I understood the practical application of this law when I was nursing my first. He had trouble latching on and the first week I felt like I was sitting in bed naked all day long. This law allowed me to daven!