Reference for Yevamot 1:1

משנה חמש עשרה נשים פוטרות צרותיהן וצרות צרותיהן מן החליצה ומן הייבום עד סוף העולם. בתו ובת בתו ובת בנו בת אשתו ובת בנה ובת בתו וחמותו ואם חמותו ואם חמיו אחותו ואחות אמו ואחות אשתו אשת אחיו מאמו ואשת אחיו שלא היה בעולמו וכלתו:

From when may one recite Shema in the evening? From the time the Kohanim go in to eat their Terumah (produce consecrated for priestly consumption). Until the end of the first watch, says Rabbi Eliezer. And the Sages say: Until [astronomical] midnight. Rabban Gamliel says: Until the break of dawn. It once happened that his [Rabban Gamliel’s] sons came from a house of feasting. They said to him: We have not recited Shema. He to them: If dawn has not broken, you are obligated to recite it. And it is not only in this case that they said it! Rather, in all cases where the Sages said "only until midnight," the obligation remains until the break of dawn. [e.g.] Burning the fats and limbs [of the sacrifices, on the Temple altar] — the obligation is until the break of dawn. [e.g.:] All [sacrifices] which may be eaten for one day — the obligation is until the break of dawn. If that is so, why did the Sages say, "until midnight?" To distance a person from transgression.

Explore reference for Yevamot 1:1. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.