Siddur Ashkenaz · Weekday, Shacharit, Blessings of the Shema, Barchu, Chapter 1
1
המנהג הפשוט בכל תפוצות ישראל לומר ברכו לפני פריסת שמע. ואין לאומרו בפחות מעשרה שכל דבר שבקדושה אינו בפחות מעשרה (אבודרהם).
It has become a universally-accepted custom to recite Barechu before proceeding to the blessings of Shema. Barechu, like Kaddish and Kedushah, cannot be recited unless a quorum—a minyan of ten adult males—is present. Barechu is also said by one who is called upon to read from the Torah. The practice of saying Barechu is mentioned numerous times in the Talmud. It is even cited in the Mishna (Maseches Berachos 49b) in the names of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael.
המנהג הפשוט בכל תפוצות ישראל לומר ברכו לפני פריסת שמע. ואין לאומרו בפחות מעשרה שכל דבר שבקדושה אינו בפחות מעשרה (אבודרהם).
It has become a universally-accepted custom to recite Barechu before proceeding to the blessings of Shema. Barechu, like Kaddish and Kedushah, cannot be recited unless a quorum—a minyan of ten adult males—is present. Barechu is also said by one who is called upon to read from the Torah. The practice of saying Barechu is mentioned numerous times in the Talmud. It is even cited in the Mishna (Maseches Berachos 49b) in the names of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael.