Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim · Siman 63

Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 63 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 1[The Laws regarding the requirement] to sit at the time of the recitation of the Shema and to not sleep [during it] - and it contains 9 se'ifim One may recite it [i.e. the Sh'ma] walking, standing, lying, riding on the back of an animal, or sitting, but not "p'rakdan", that is, with one's face into the ground or cast on one's back with one's face upwards, but one may recite while lying on their side. Rem"a: Since one was already lying and it is troublesome to stand up [Ri on the chapter "one whose dead" (B'rakhot 3)] And if one was very heavyset and not able to turn over onto their side or was sick, then they [should] incline a little towards their side and recite [the Sh'ma].
2. 2One who wants to be stringent to stand when one is sitting [in order to] to recite it standing is called a sinner.
3. 3If one was walking on the way and needs to recite the Recitation of the Sh'ma, they must stand [still] during the first verse.
4. 4The main part during which one should have focus is the first verse. Therefore, if one recited [it] and did not focus one's heart during the first verse, they did not fulfill their obligation, and must go back and recite it [again]. And even according to the one whose opinion is that mitzvot do not require focus, agrees here.
5. 5If one was sleeping, we bother him and wake him up until he recites the first verse while fully awake. From here onwards, we do not bother him in order to recite while fully awake, for even though he reads it drowsy, he fulfills his obligation. Rem"a: And [regarding] the law of one who is drinking or is drunk, see below Siman 99, Se'if 1.
6. 6One who is [in the middle of] reciting the Sh'ma should not signal with one's eyes, mouth with one's lips, or gesture with one's fingers during the first paragraph which is the main acceptance of the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven because he [then] appears like he's reading it casually, and it is written "and you shall speak of them...", and we explain [this to mean]: do them permanently (ie. speak them in a formal/non-casual way).
7. 7If one is busy with work and wants to recite the Recitation of the Sh'ma, he must cease from his work until he recites the first paragraph so that it does not appear like he's reading it casually.
8. 8Skilled craftsmen, and similarly the homeowner, that were doing work on the top of a tree or on top of the walls of the building may recite the Recitation of the Sh'ma in their place and they do not need to descend.
9. 9A porter, despite that his load is on his shoulders, may recite the Recitation of the Sh'ma, but may not begin [it] at the time that he loads [it] and not at the time that he puts [it] down because his heart/mind is not settled.

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