What is the appropriate way to say Kriyas Shema?

The Torah states lo yeraeh becha ervas davar. Chazal derive from this pasuk that a davar shebekedusha may not be said when an ervah (private part of a person) is visible. The poskim say that this halacha is divided into five different points. When saying a davar shebekedusha, one may not: 1) see his own ervah, 2) see someone else’s ervah, and 3) have his own ervah visible even if he is not looking at it. The  two other points will be explained below.

ס"ק ד' ביה"ל ד"ה נעתיק

How can one protect his heart when saying a davar shebekedusha?

Chazal explain that aside from seeing with the eyes, a person’s heart also “sees”. When a person says a davar shebekedusha, there must be a barrier between his heart and his ervah. Thus, it is forbidden to say Shema while wearing only a long shirt (which covers the ervah) and no undergarment. One way to create a proper separation in a case like this is to press the shirt down over--or beneath--the area of the heart.  Just as a person cannot allow his heart to “see” his own ervah, it may not be in direct view of another person’s ervah.

ס"ק א ד וביה"ל שם

Do Birchos Kriyas Shema have to be repeated if they were said while one was improperly dressed?

The halachos regarding ervah and one’s eyes are mid’oraisa, while those pertaining to the heart are only mid’rabonon. If a davar shebekedusha was said when ervah was visible to the eyes, it must be repeated. If the ervah was only visible to the heart, some poskim hold that brochos and Shemoneh Esrei do not have to be repeated. Kriyas Shema and its brochos must be repeated in either case.

[ס"ק א-ג, וביה"ל פתיחה אות ג, וד"ה צריך; וראה סעיף

• The people who are needed to carry a coffin to burial are exempt from Kriyas Shema. The rest of the funeral party is obligated. They should pause momentarily to say the first pasuk; the rest can be said while they are walking.

• There is a Torah prohibition against delaying a burial overnight. The poskim disagree about whether it is forbidden to delay the burial into the night or whether it is only forbidden to delay the burial until the next morning.

• One who joins a levayah performs a great chesed for the departed. As an extension of the mitzvah of gemilas chesed, one is obligated to join a levayah. 

• Must one be dressed appropriately when saying divrei Torah in English?

• Can one be yotzei Sefiras Haomer by writing?

• May one write during davening?