Sleep on It

May I say Krias Shema al Hamittah while already lying down in bed?

It’s recommended to recite Krias Shema while standing or sitting, before lying in bed, since once one is lying down, she’s liable to fall asleep before finishing the Shema or Hamapil. But if one is already lying in bed, she’s not required to get out of bed in order to say Shema or Hamapil.

I’m a night owl and often climb into bed long after midnight. May I say Krias Shema al Hamittah at this hour?

Krias Shema may be said at any time before going to sleep. Hamapil, however, should not be recited if one will not fall asleep until after alos hashachar, which is about 72 minutes before sunrise. (According to some kabbalistic sources, one should omit Hamapil if he goes to sleep past chatzos. Other kabbalistic sources dispute this and require that Hamapil be recited at all times.)

As a mother of children of different ages, I don’t feel comfortable saying Hamapil, because my younger children often need me right after I recite it but before I fall asleep. What’s the proper approach?

Regarding Hamapil, there are two schools of thought: Some maintain that Hamapil is similar to shehakol or borei peri ha’eitz, which must be recited immediately before drinking or eating with no interruption allowed. If so, one who interrupts between Hamapil and falling asleep is reciting a brachah l’vatalah.

However, many other poskim hold that Hamapil is not a brachah for an individual’s personal sleep; rather, it’s a general blessing of praise to Hashem for giving His creations the opportunity to refresh and rejuvenate themselves, similar to Elokai neshamah. If so, one could recite Hamapil even though he is well aware that he may be forced to make an interruption afterwards.