#87 - El Melekh Ne'eman

<p>In traditional Ashkenazi <em>siddurim</em>, you&#39;ll find this instruction, right before <em>Sh&#39;ma Yisrael</em>: &quot;when praying in private, add &#39;<em>El Melekh Ne&#39;eman</em>.&#39;&quot; Is this a big deal? Well, when you say &quot;<em>El Melekh Ne&#39;eman</em>&quot; you&#39;re adding material to <em>k&#39;ri&#39;at Sh&#39;ma </em>(the recitation of Sh&#39;ma and its accompanying <em>b&#39;rakhot</em>), without any authorization in the classical sources, and the <em>halakhah </em>has a big problem with that. It shouldn&#39;t be there... but it is! And that fact tells us something about the capacity of Jewish law to change, to accommodate itself to the needs of those who pray. So yes, it <em>is </em>​a big deal!</p><p>Download the source sheet at www.freehofinstitute.org/podcast. </p>