Translation:Mishnah/Seder Zeraim/Tractate Berakhot/Chapter 2/8

Introduction

This mishnah continues from Mishnah Berakhot 2:5, which says that a groom is exempt from reciting Shema on the first night.

Hebrew Text

חָתָן, אִם רָצָה לִקְרוֹת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע לַיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן – קוֹרֵא.

רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר:

לֹא כָּל הָרוֹצֶה לִטֹּל אֶת הַשֵּׁם, יִטֹּל.

English Translation

If a groom wants to recite Shema on the first night, he may recite [it].

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says:

Not everyone who wants to take on a name may take it on.

Explanation

Not everyone: Not everyone can be as pious and observant as necessary to recite the Shema according to R. Shimon ben Gamliel. The halakha, however, follows the view of the Sages, that if one feels he is capable of reciting properly, he may do so.

a name: The positive reputation that he is particularly careful in his religious observance. (Bartenura)