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From: rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu (Russell Hendel)
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 21:12:08 -0400
Subject: Why the Heart-Nudity Separation for Prayer

Rothke and Goldberg [Vol 26n55-58] bring up the issue of why "ones
heart" and "nakedness" have to be separated as a prerequisite for saying
th Shemah. One verse cited in "..your camp shall be holy.."(Dt
23:15). There seems to be the possibility that verse is the "source" for
prohibiting saying the Shema in the presence of either nakedness or
excrement.

I would like to bring another possibility and reopen the question. [Dt
6:4] clearly states: "Hear Israel...". The word "Hear" is used to derive
the requirement of "concentration and understanding". Anything which
intefers with my concentration is prohibited and may require my saying
the Shemah over again. It would appear to me that this derivation
emanates from the fact that the usual Biblical word to be used in a
commandment to know something is either "say" (e.g. Dt 26:5) or
know(e.g. Dt 11:2 or 4:39).  The word "hear" is rather rare (check a
Konkordance or CD rom). Thus it is interpreted to mean that one must
concentrate and understand.

This law (the requirement of concentration) introduces Rambam: Laws of
Shemah 2:1 and seems to be a theme of the chapter. Although most of the
nudity laws are in Chapter 3 nevertheless at least one nudity law occurs
in chapter 2:7.

My real point however is that the concentration theme seems to dominate
the laws of Shemah: Compare the following:

	* No Shemah on wedding nights with a virgin since
	"ones mind is confused (and you can't concentrate)"(4:1-2)

	* One must stop for the shemah if one is walking or working
	in order to concentrate on the first verse/chapter(2:3-4).

	* There is a prohibition of reading in a non primary manner
	e.g. by communicating with gestures while one is reading(2:8).

In light of all this maybe the prohibitions of saying the shemah in the
presence of foul odors, the nudity of others and even ones own nudity is
simply a law on concentration.

I'd be curious as to other people's opinions on what the real
prohibition is

Russell Jay Hendel; Ph.d; ASA; rhendel @ mcs drexel edu