Un marié est dispensé du récit du Shema la première nuit, jusqu'au motzai Shabbath s'il n'a pas accompli l'acte. [Un marié qui a épousé une vierge est exempté du récit du Shema la première nuit, étant préoccupé de ne pas la trouver vierge. Et j'ai entendu dire que (sa préoccupation est) la peur qu'il puisse devenir kruth shafchah (mutilé) par des rapports sexuels, ceci étant "la préoccupation d'une mitsva". Et l'Écriture déclare (Deutéronome 6: 7): "et en marchant sur le chemin"—C'est dans votre "marche" (banale) que vous êtes obligé de la réciter, mais pas dans celle qu'implique une mitsva. «s'il n'avait pas fait l'acte»: s'il n'avait pas eu de relations sexuelles jusqu'au motzai Shabbath, sa «préoccupation» durant quatre nuits [à partir du jour habituel (mercredi) du mariage pour une vierge]. Passé ce délai, il est "familier" avec elle et n'est plus préoccupé, de sorte que même s'il n'avait pas encore accompli l'acte, il doit réciter le Shema.] Il est arrivé que R. Gamliel récitât le Shema lors de sa nuit de noces, à ce que ses disciples lui dirent: "Notre maître ne nous a-t-il pas appris que l'époux est exempt du Shema?" Il a répondu: "Je ne vous tiendrai pas compte de vous dépouiller du joug du royaume des cieux pour un court instant!"
Bartenura on Mishnah Berakhot
חתן – [A groom] who married a virgin
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English Explanation of Mishnah Berakhot
Introduction
This mishnah deals with a bridegroom reciting the Shema. The problem is that he may not be able to have the proper intention because he is focusing on other matters.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Berakhot
פטור מקריאת שמע לילה ראשון – is exempt from the Recitation of the Shema the first night (of his marriage) because of the grave concern that he might not find her to be a virgin. And I heard that he fears lest he might his genitals might be mutilated through his [initial] intercourse [with his wife] and it is his preoccupation with this Mitzvah. And All-Merciful One (God) said (Deuteronomy 6:7), “and when you are away” – in your “going” (the commandment for sexual intercourse with one’s [virgin] wife is tied to the command “be fertile and increase” – Genesis 1:27) – which obligates you but also commands one’s exemption [from the recitation of the Shema].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Berakhot
A bridegroom is exempt from reciting the Shema on the first night until the end of the Shabbat, if he has not performed the act. According to the first mishnah in Ketubot, virgins are married on Wednesdays. Our mishnah teaches that the bridegroom is exempt from his obligation to recite the Shema from the first night of his wedding and for the next four nights, if he had not yet had sexual relations with her. Until he has relations with her he will obviously be very nervous, especially since this may very well be his first sexual encounter. This nervousness will prevent him from having the proper intention and hence the mishnah exempts him. However, if he hasn’t had sex with her until after Shabbat, he must go back to reciting the Shema.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Berakhot
It happened with Rabban Gamaliel who recited the Shema on the first night after he had married. His students said to him: Our master, have you not taught us that a bridegroom is exempt from reciting the Shema. He replied to them: I will not listen to you to remove from myself the Kingship of Heaven even for a moment. The story of Rabban Gamaliel seems to show that the previous clause means that the bridegroom is exempt from the Shema, not that he can’t recite it should he want to do so. Rabban Gamaliel’s love of God, his desire to say the Shema and thereby accept upon himself the Kingship of Heaven is so strong, that he cannot desist from reciting the Shema even on his wedding night. [We don’t know how his bride reacted to this.]
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Bartenura on Mishnah Berakhot
אם לא עשה מעשה – If he did not engage in sexual intercourse until Saturday night (after the conclusion of Shabbat) which is four nights that he was preoccupied [with his ability to perform his sexual obligations to his wife]. And from that point onwards, he becomes intimate with her and furthermore, is no longer preoccupied, and even though he has not yet performed his obligation [of intimacy with his wife], he is obligated to recite the Shema.
