Dear Rabbi,
I notice that during shacharis, neither of my siddurs says to cover your eyes for the shema that is said on an early page after ribbonu shel olam is placated.
I still cover my eyes, but I realize that there are times we say shema during kedushah and during the taking of Torah when the eyes are not covered.
Indeed, a rabbi I observed covered his eyes at the beginning of the prayer service during the first shema. It is also said without reciting the prayer we say when there is no minyan.
What more can you tell me about the recitation of shema in the prayer service?
Clearly, the siddur does not indicate a need to cover the eyes, and I do not in the other two occurrences during minyan.
Shalom.
Answer:
The purpose of covering our eyes while reciting the first verse of Shema is to block out other thoughts and focus solely on what we are saying. This applies only to the Shema recited when fulfilling the biblical commandment to recite the Shema, which is done during the morning and evening prayers, just before reciting the Shemona Esrei. We do not have to cover our eyes when saying it at other times during the prayer. This is why the siddurim don’t mention it.
Best wishes
Sources:
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 61-5.
