Birchot HaShachar: Difference between revisions

#Although the beracha of HaNoten Layaef Koach is not mentioned in the Gemara, the practice nowadays is to say it.<ref>[http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=3043 Rabbi Eli Mansour DailyHalacha]. However, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (Nefesh Harav pg. 107) didn't recite this beracha. Halacha Brurah (Otzrot Yosef 3:10) explains that Sephardim say the bracha even though it isn't in the gemara since it is the minhag and supported by the Arizal. The Chida in Birkei Yosef 46:11 argued that if Rav Yosef Karo knew of the Arizal's opinion he would have retracted. Rav Ovadia in Yechava Daat 4:4 disagreed with this contention but agreed to the conclusion that the minhag of Sephardim is to recite Hanoten Layef Koach. Halacha Brurah adds that it is also acceptable according to Rashi in Sefer Hapardes siman 5 that one can add brachot onto Brachot Hashachar as you wish. Although his opinion is rejected it is another point.

*As to the larger topic of reciting Brachot that aren't in the Gemara see: Shulchan Aruch OC 46, Shulchan Aruch EH 63, Pear Hadur of Rambam Siman 129 fnt. 7 of Rav Dovid Yosef, and Yachava Daat 4:4 footnote.</ref>

#If one slept well after nightfall, one may recite Birchot HaShachar at [[Chatzot]] even if one plans on going back to sleep. Elokai Neshama and HaMaavir Sheina, however, should only be said after one got up and when one no longer plans on going back to sleep. One who forgot to say the Birchot HaShachar before [[davening]], may say them afterwards, besides [[Birchot HaTorah]] and Elokai Neshama, as a result of some debate.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 47:13, Mishna Brurah 47:30 and 52:9-10</ref>

#If one woke up before [[Olot HaShachar]] and one plans on going to sleep afterwards, one should make Birchot HaShachar except for Elokai Neshama and HaMaavir Shenah which should be said without [[Shem UMalchut]]. In the morning, one should recite Elokai Neshama and HaMaavir Shenah with [[Shem UMalchut]].<ref>Mishna Brurah 47:30 </ref> However, if one slept the day before some say one may make the bracha oneself.<ref>Piskei Teshuvot 494:7 </ref>

#Ideally, Birchot HaShachar should be recited before the 4th Halachik hour of the day, but may be recited until midday. If one did not yet do so, one may recite Birchot HaShachar until one goes to sleep at night, as there is no definitive zman (time frame) in which to say them.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 47:13, Mishna Brurah 47:30 and 52:9-10, Yechave Daat 4:4. Derech Hachaim 247:4 writes that according to the Magen Avraham 71:1 the time for Birchat Hashachar is until the 4th hour of the day. Biur Halacha 52:1 s.v. kol disagrees. He accepts the Maamar Mordechai and Nahar Shalom that the time is all day. He also cites the Maaseh Rav that it can even be said by day. Mishna Brurah 52:10 concludes that initially one should say the birchot hashachar before 4 hours or Chatzot.</ref>

#Sephardim have a minhag to say the birchot hashachar before putting on Tefillin.<ref>Kaf Hachaim 46:2 writes that the Arizal's practice was to say Birchot Hashachar, Akeda, and then put on Tallit and Tefillin.</ref>

#Women make Birchot HaShachar except that instead of Shelo Asani Isha they say Sheasani Kirtzono without reciting Hashem's name. Instead of Shelo Asani Aved, they say Shelo Asani Shifcha and instead of Shelo Asani Goy they say Shelo Asani Goya.<ref>Ben Ish Chai in [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=41237&pgnum=44 Od Yosef Chay Vayeshev n. 9], Yechave Daat 4:4, Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Birkot Hashachar, Birkot Hatorah and Psukei Dizimra 5764 page 26. </ref>

 

#Even if one did not sleep at all at night, Ashkenazim may nevertheless make all the Birchot HaShachar  except for Elokai Nishama, HaMaavir Sheynah, and [[Birchot HaTorah]] which one should preferably hear from and be motzi by someone who has slept.<ref>Rama 46:8, Mishna Brurah 46:24 </ref>If one is alone, poskim differ on these as to these brachot for askinazim<ref>Regarding a situation where an askinazi can not hear it from another, HaMaavir Sheynah and Elokai Nishmat, (אליה רבה  to Orach Chaim simin 46 at sif katan 13), says not to say them).  Aruch Hashulchan in simin 46 to orach chaim at paragraph 13 disagrees and says to say them).  Regarding birchas hatorah, Mishnah berurah to orach chaim 47 at sif katan 28 says not to say it, bringing both opinions and reasoning safek brachot lihakel. Aruch Hashulchan (orach chaim 47 at paragraph 23) however, strongly vouches for saying birchat hatorah if awake the whole night and unable to hear from another citing the malgan avrfaham at sif katan 12 to orach chaim 47.</ref>.  Sephardim may make all the Birchot HaShachar (including [[Birchot HaTorah]]) except for [[Netilat Yadayim]] (and [[Asher Yatzer]] which one could make oneself if one goes to the bathroom).<ref>Kaf HaChaim 46:49, Sh"t Yabia Omer 5:6, Tefillah KeHilchata (chap 9 note 159) quoting Chacham Ben Tzion Abba Shaul, Yalkut Yosef Birkot Hashachar, Birkot Hatorah and Psukei Dizimra 5764 page 13 </ref>

#If one forgot to recite Birchot HaShachar and remembered in middle of [[Pesukei DeZimrah]] one should say it between the paragraphs in [[Pesukei DeZimrah]].<ref>Ishei Yisrael 5:27 </ref>

#If one forgot to say Birchot HaShachar and only remembered in [[Kriyat Shema|Brachot Kriyat Shema]] one should not interrupt to say the Birchot HaShachar but rather have intent not to fulfill one’s obligation of Elokai Nishama with the bracha of Mechaya Meytim.<ref>Mishna Brurah 52:9 </ref>

#If one forgot to say Birchot HaShachar before [[davening]] one may say all the Birchot HaShachar afterwards except for Elokai Nishama which some say was fulfilled with the bracha of Mechaye Maytim.<ref>Kaf HaChaim 46:9, Mishna Brurah 52:9 </ref>

 

#For Hebrew text of Birchot Haschachar [http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=6756&st=&pgnum=51 click here] and continue to go to the next page or [http://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%93%D7%95%D7%A8_%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94_%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A8%5C%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%97%D7%A8 click here].