MISHNA BRACHOT

 

Chapter 2, Mishna 2

(continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Karcha.  Did you ever think about the order of the paragraphs of Shema?

Shema, the first paragraph, is from Devarim chapter 6.  V'haya Im Shamoah, the second paragph, is from Devarim Chapter 11.  But then Vayomer, the third paragraph, is from back in Bemidbar Chapter 15! 

Actually, the order makes lots of sense.

First, we must accept that there is a Hashem, who has commanded us to love and obey Him.  That's what we do in the first paragraph of Shema.

Only once we do this can we say we accept the mitzvot.  That's what we do in the second paragraph when we talk about the rewards for obeying the mitzvot (and, G-d Forbid, the punishments for not).

The third paragraph talks about the mitzvah of tzitizit.

This only applies during the day, not night.  So, it goes last.

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