Prayer and Blessings
May Kriat Shema al HaMitah Be Said Outside the Bedroom?
Question
Dear Rabbi,
Can the entire Keriat Shema al HaMitah be recited while standing?
And can Keriat Shema al HaMitah be said near the bed and not on the bed? If there is no requirement to be on the bed, if I am sitting and there are other people in the room with me and my recitation will disturb their sleep, and their presence will disturb my concentration, may I recite it outside the room, not near the bed?
Thank you
Answer
Hello,
1. It is possible to say the entire text of Keriat Shema al HaMitah while standing (Mishnah Berurah, siman 239, seif katan 6).
3. It is possible to say Keriat Shema al HaMitah also near the bed. However, when possible there is an advantage to reciting it in the room where one sleeps (Makor Chaim, siman 239, section 1, beginning with the words samuch). And in a case where this would disturb others, of course one should not be stringent about this.
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
1. It is possible to say the entire text of Keriat Shema al HaMitah while standing (Mishnah Berurah, siman 239, seif katan 6).
3. It is possible to say Keriat Shema al HaMitah also near the bed. However, when possible there is an advantage to reciting it in the room where one sleeps (Makor Chaim, siman 239, section 1, beginning with the words samuch). And in a case where this would disturb others, of course one should not be stringent about this.
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
