1) One who recites the first Posuk of "Shema Yisroel" as well as the subsequent "Baruch Shem" without understanding what he/she is saying, has not satisfied their obligation and must repeat them.
When one is repeating the Krias Shema due to lack of Kavanah and is in a place where people can hear him/her, the second recital is said in a low voice.
2) When reciting the Krias Shema, it is very important to say each word slowly and clearly, as to avoid any words being "swallowed" by any adjoining words or letters (e.g. "B’Chal L’Vovecha" if said too fast can sound like "B’Chalivavcha", "Tizkiru" if said too fast can sound like "Tiskiru" etc. which changes the meaning of the words. Tizkiru means "To Remember". Tiskiru means "To get reward". Besides being the wrong word, it also sounds as if we are serving Hashem in order to get reward).
If even one word or letter was omitted the obligation of Krias Shema has not been fulfilled.
If a word was pronounced wrongly, or in a way that changes the meaning, though it isn’t proper and one should be more scrupulous in the future, the obligation for the current recital has been satisfied. (Aruch HaShulchan)
Some people have the Minhag to recite Krias Shema with the tune (Trop) used to read the Torah.
Reader’s Question:
Somehow I’ve never understood how rubbing one’s hands in dirt makes them undirty , could you explain that to me?
Also, is one allowed to forego washing with water in order to catch a minyan when there will be later opportunities to daven with other minyanim, and does it matter if those later minyanim are less convenient than the present one?
My Answer:
That is a good point, and I never really thought about it. I will look around in the Sefarim and see what I can find. If I had to guess though, I would say that besides for cleaning the hands, we are also looking to "purify" them for Tefilah, thus rubbing them in the dirt may be satisfactory to release the "impurities".
The Poskim seem to say that if the Minyan you are about to daven in is your minyan Kovua (the minyan you always daven with), or a better minyan (where you will daven better, less rushed etc.) then you may forgo the water to catch the minyan, even if there are other minyanim later on. But if the later minyan is just as good, it seems that they say to wait for it and wash the hands properly.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
