Hello Sir,
In reference to Berachot 4 (6a):
It mentions that at night we read Shema after tefilla. Is it refering to the Bedtime Shema or the normal Shema that we do at maariv? Usually at maariv we do shema, then shemini esrei right? Please clarify.
Reuben Moses, Singapore
The Gemara that you are referring to cites a difference of opinion between R. Yochanan, who maintains that at night-time, as in the morning, the Sh'ma precedes Tefilah, and R. Yehoshua ben Levi, who switches the order, placing Sh'ma after the Amidah, closer to bed-time, like in the morning.
Clearly then, the Gemara is referring to the Sh'ma of Ma'ariv, and not to that of bedtime, as R. Yochanan would never say that the bed-time Sh'ma is said before the Amidah of Ma'ariv.
You conclude that "at Ma'ariv, we do Sh'ma, then Shemonah-Esrei". Indeed we do, because we follow the opinion of R. Yochanan.
After having written this, I noticed that R. Yehoshua ben Levi rules at the foot of the same Amud that even though one read the Sh'ma in Shul, it is nevertheless a Mitzvah to read it again before going to bed. This Gemara is of course, referring to the bedtime Sh'ma. Interestingly, the author of that statement is R. Yehoshua ben Levi, who requires the Sh'ma to be said in Shul after the Amidah; yet he prefers it to be recited again before going to bed, even though he may just have recited a few moments earlier, at the conclusion of Ma'ariv.
be'Virchas Kol Tuv
Eliezer Chrysler.