Commentary for Sotah 83:15

ואמר אליהם שמע ישראל מאי שנא שמע ישראל אמר רבי יוחנן משום רבי שמעון בן יוחי אמר להן הקדוש ברוך הוא לישראל אפילו לא קיימתם אלא קריאת שמע שחרית וערבית אי אתם נמסרין בידם

said: For what is the priests' deputy appointed? If any disqualification should occur to the High Priest, he enters and functions in his stead.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But so long as the High Priest could officiate, the deputy ranked as an ordinary priest. ');">²⁷</span> 'And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel'. Why must he just [open with the words] 'Hear, O Israel'? — R. Johanan said in the name of R. Simeon b. Yohai: The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, Even if you only fulfilled morning and evening the commandment to recite the <i>Shema'</i>,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. This also opens with 'Hear, O Israel'. ');">²⁸</span>

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