Translation:Mishnah/Seder Zeraim/Tractate Berakhot/Chapter 2/5

Hebrew Text

חָתָן פָּטוּר מִקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן עַד מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת,

אִם לֹא עָשָׂה מַעֲשֶׂה.

מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל

שֶׁקָּרָא בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁנָּשָׂא.

אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו:

לֹא לִמַּדְתָּנוּ, רַבֵּנוּ, שֶׁחָתָן פָּטוּר מִקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן?

אָמַר לָהֶם:

אֵינִי שׁוֹמֵעַ לָכֶם לְבַטֵּל מִמֶּנִּי מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם אֲפִלּוּ שָׁעָה אֶחָת.

English Translation

A groom is exempt from reciting Shema on the first night, until Saturday night

if he has not done the deed.

A story about Rabban Gamliel

who recited [Shema] on the first night that he got married.

His students said to him:

Didn't you teach us, our teacher, that a groom is exempt from reciting Shema on the first night?

He said to them:

I will not listen to you, to remove the kingdom of heaven from me for even one hour.