Questions about the bed time Shma
Golda Hoffman asked 7 years ago
- How much earlier before going to sleep can I say this? I understand the final bracha needs to be said right before I go to sleep.
- If I do not say it on a particular night, are there are tehillim or special tefillos I can say the next day to repair any spiritual damage I incurred by missing it? (To get those negative energies out).
- I have heard that it is not recommended for people to recite the four paragraphs after viduy that start with yehi ratzon because at this point we are not at the right level to understand, mystically, what we are actually saying. What do you think about this? Is it possible I can do myself spiritual harm by reciting these?
1 Answers
Rabbi Alon Anava answered 7 years ago
Shalom,
1) It's always best to recite the prayer as close as possible to the time one goes to sleep, but if you feel you might fall asleep without saying the prayer, you can say Shma even an hour before going to sleep, and like you said, the last Bracha must be said right before you go to sleep.
2) If you miss one night of Shma, you can recite it in the morning when you wake up, just without the Bracha of 'Ha'mapil'.
3) If you use the Ari'Zal Nosach (type) which includes the Viduy, you can defiantly read it and it will not harm you in any way. You are totally safe to read it and I recommend to read it. It is always recommended to learn what it means so you can have more Kavanah (the right intention) in your prayer.
All the best,
Alon Anava
Please login or Register to submit your answer
