Can one person be motzi his chiyuv of Shma by hearing it from another person?
Yaakov Astor, NY, US
One can be Yotzei one's Chiyuv of Sh'ma by hearing it from another man (provided both parties have that in mind). This is based on the principle 'Shomei'a ke'Oneh' (hearing something is like reciting it oneself). It is preferable however, to recite it oneself, if possible.
Kol Tuv,
Eliezer Chrysler
There are those who maintain that Keri'as Shema is indeed an exception to the rule of Shome'a k'Oneh. The VILNA GA'ON takes this position (in SHENOS ELIYAHU, beginning of Berachos), explaining that this is why the Mishnah writes "Me'Eimasai Korin Es Shema", using the plural form (Korin vs. Korei), unlike other Mishnayos that discuss Berachos (e.g. the Mishnah in Berachos 11a) which use the singular form of the verb. Regarding Berachos, one person may be Motzi many others, therefore the Mishnah says, "Korei," but regarding Shema, each and every person must recite the Shema by himself, hence "Korin" Es ha'Shema.
The reasoning behind this position seems to be that Shema is a series of verses from the Torah and not just a Berachah. Verses from the Torah must be learned , and not just recited, and it is impossible for one person to be Motzi someone else in learning .
(This has no bearing on the Yisachar-Zevulun issue, which is obviously an entirely different kind of relationship. Zevulun is not even present while Yisachar is learning; this is not the classic case of being Motzi another Jew at all.)
The idea that Shema is a type of Keri'as ha'Torah and not a type of Berachah is evident in many places in the Gemara, see for example Menachos 99b, "One who says Shema fulfills the verse 'Lo Yamish Sefer ha'Torah ha'Zeh mi'Picha...,' and Berachos 14b, "Shema is Lilmod, v'Haya is Lelamed..." and Berachos 13b, "Ad Kan Mitzvas Keri'a v'Kavanah ..." and Berachos 10b, "One who reads Keri'as Shema in its proper time is greater than one who studies Torah."
When the term "Shome'a k'Oneh" is used regarding Shema, or Torah study, it is used in an entirely different context; it means that if another person hears and understands, he is fulfilling the Mitzvah of thinking Torah. (See Tosfos 20b DH kid'Ashkechan.)
Best wishes,
Mordecai Kornfeld