Translation:Mishnah/Seder Zeraim/Tractate Berakhot/Chapter 3/1

Introduction

Jewish law provides exemptions from some commandments for individuals who are not able for some reason or another to fulfill them properly. Berakhot 3:1 describes one such exemption.

Hebrew Text

מִי שֶׁמֵּתוֹ מוּטָל לְפָנָיו –

פָּטוּר מִקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע, מִן הַתְּפִלָּה, וּמִן הַתְּפִלִּין.

נוֹשְׂאֵי הַמִּטָּה, וְחִלּוּפֵיהֶן, וְחִלּוּפֵי חִלּוּפֵיהֶן,

אֶת שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַמִּטָּה וְאֶת שֶׁלְּאַחַר הַמִּטָּה:

אֶת שֶׁלַּמִּטָּה צֹרֶךְ בָּהֶן – פְּטוּרִין,

וְאֶת שֶׁאֵין לַמִּטָּה צֹרֶךְ בָּהֶן – חַיָּבִין.

אֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ – פְּטוּרִין מִן הַתְּפִלָּה.

English Translation

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One whose dead lies before him,

he is exempt from reciting the Shema, from saying the Amidah and from wearing tefillin.

The pall bearers, their replacements and the replacements of the replacements,

whether in front of or behind the stretcher,

if they are needed for the stretcher they are exempt [from reciting the Shema],

if they are not needed for the stretcher they are obligated [to recite the Shema].

In either case, they are exempt from saying the Amidah.

Explanation

Whose dead lies before: i.e. one who is currently in a state of mourning.

Him: Women are not required to recite the Shema or wear tefillin while praying anyway, though they may do so if they wish.

Amidah: The Hebrew text of the mishnah uses the word tefilah, which means prayer. It is understood that this is a reference to the Amidah. It is also important to acknowledge that as one is exempt from recital of the Shema and from tefillin he would naturally be exempt from the Amidah anyway, but it is nonetheless stated so as to be clear on the subject.

Pall bearers, their replacements and the replacements of the replacements: At the time the Mishnah was compiled, it was a tradition that the casket on the stretcher would be carried by multiple people, with the pall bearers changing frequently.