Birchot HaShachar: Difference between revisions

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# Ideally, one should say elokai neshama in connection with asher yatzar or any other beracha that begins with the words baruch. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Birkot Hashachar, Birkot Hatorah and Psukei Dizimra 5764 page 21; Ben Ish Hai, Vayeshev, Halacha 1; Kaf HaChaim 46:4 </ref>  
# Ideally, one should say elokai neshama in connection with asher yatzar or any other beracha that begins with the words baruch. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Birkot Hashachar, Birkot Hatorah and Psukei Dizimra 5764 page 21; Ben Ish Hai, Vayeshev, Halacha 1; Kaf HaChaim 46:4 </ref>  
==Misc==
==Misc==
# One who slept a sound sleep after nightfall, may recite the Birchos Hashachar even as early as after Chatzos, and even if one plans to go back to sleep. However, the [[Brachos]] of Elokai Nishama and HaMaavir Sheina should only be said when one gets up for the day. One who forgot to say the [[Berachos]] before [[davening]] can say them afterwards. Ideally they should be recited before the 4th Halachik hour of the day, but may be recited until Chatzos noon. Afterwards, if one would like to recite the Bearachos, he may do so until he goes to sleep at night. <ref>
# If one slept well after nightfall, one may recite Birkhot HaShachar as early as [[Chatzot]]. This is true even if one plan on going back to sleep. Elokai Nishama and HaMaavir Sheina, however, should only be said after one got up and doesn't plan on going back to sleep. One who forgot to say the Birkhot HaShachar before [[davening]], may say them afterwards, besides [[Brachot HaTorah]] and Elokai Nishama, which are the subject of a debate. <ref>S"A 47:13, Mishna Brurah 47:30 and 52:9-10</ref>
S"A 47:13, Mishna Brurah 47:30 and 52:9-10</ref>
# Ideally, Birkhot HaShachar should be recited before the 4th Halachik hour of the day, but may be recited until midday. After the fact, one may recite Birkhot HaShachar until one goes to sleep at night. <ref>S"A 47:13, Mishna Brurah 47:30 and 52:9-10</ref>
# The Birchas Hashachar do not need to recited in a specific order except for [[Matir]] Asurim which must be recited before Zokef Kefufim. This because the concept of releasing the bound, [[Matir]] Asurim, is included in the concept of straightening the bowed, Zokef Kefufim. One who erred should not recite [[Matir]] Asurim and should preferably listen to someone else recite [[Matir]] Asurim to fulfill his obligation. <ref>S"A 46:5, Mishna Brurah 46:20</ref>
# The Birchas Hashachar don't have to be recited in order except that Matir Asurim must be said before Zokef Kefufim. If one said Zokef Kefufim before Matir Asurim, should not recite Matir Asurim since Zokef Kefufim, straightening the bent, includes Matir Asurim, releasing the bound. One who erred should preferably listen to someone else recite Matir Asurim in order to fulfill his obligation. <ref>S"A 46:5, Mishna Brurah 46:20</ref>
# Although the blessing is called Elokai Nishama after its first two words, those words are not recited as a phrase, rather, there is a comma after the first word. Accordingly, one should pause after saying Elokai, My G-d, and then continue Nishama SheNatana Bi. If the first two words were clumped together, the translation would incorrectly, though innocuously, ascribe the name Nishama to Hashem. One would thus be equating one's Neshama with G-d which would be blasphemous. <ref>Mishna Brurah 46:3</ref>
# In the bracha of Elokai Nishama, one should pause after saying Elokai, My G-d, and then continue Nishama SheNatana Bi. If the first two words were read together, the translation would incorrectly equating one's Neshama with God, which would be blasphemous. <ref>Mishna Brurah 46:3</ref>
==What is The Nature of Birkat HaShachar?==
==What is The Nature of Birkat HaShachar?==
<p style="text-indent: 2em">There is a famous discussion about Birkhot HaShachar based off the Gemara [[Brachot]] 60b. The Gemara says that when you hear a rooster, you should recite the Bracha of Leshechvi Binah, when you open your eyes, you say Poke'ach Ivriyim, when you sit up you say [[Matir]] Asurim, etc. The Gemara explains that each bracha corresponds to a specific action or occurrence in the morning routine. The question becomes whether you say these [[brachot]] only if the corresponding situation relates to you or are they general [[brachot]] that everyone should say.</p>
<p style="text-indent: 2em">There is a famous discussion about Birkhot HaShachar based off the Gemara [[Brachot]] 60b. The Gemara says that when you hear a rooster, you should recite the Bracha of Leshechvi Binah, when you open your eyes, you say Poke'ach Ivriyim, when you sit up you say Matir Asurim, etc. The Gemara explains that each bracha corresponds to a specific action or occurrence in the morning routine. The question becomes whether you say these [[brachot]] only if the corresponding situation relates to you or are they general [[brachot]] that everyone should say.</p>
<p style="text-indent: 2em">The Rambam (Hilchot [[Tefillah]] 7:7-9) says that they are subjective and should only be said if the corresponding occurrence is relevant to you. He notes, however, that the minhag was to say the [[brachot]] in shul even if one wasn't obligated in a specific bracha, such as if one didn't hear the rooster that morning. The Ramban Pesachim 7b s.v. VeHa, on the other hand, argues that Birkhot HaShachar are objective and are meant to be a praise for the regular nature of the world. Therefore, everyone should say all of the [[brachot]] even if one didn't benefit from the occurrences that the [[brachot]] relate to. </p>
<p style="text-indent: 2em">The Rambam (Hilchot [[Tefillah]] 7:7-9) says that they are subjective and should only be said if the corresponding occurrence is relevant to you. He notes, however, that the minhag was to say the [[brachot]] in shul even if one wasn't obligated in a specific bracha, such as if one didn't hear the rooster that morning. The Ramban Pesachim 7b s.v. VeHa, on the other hand, argues that Birkhot HaShachar are objective and are meant to be a praise for the regular nature of the world. Therefore, everyone should say all of the [[brachot]] even if one didn't benefit from the occurrences that the [[brachot]] relate to. </p>
<p style="text-indent: 2em">The Shulchan Aruch<ref>S"A 46:8</ref> rules like the Rambam, while the Rama accepts the opinion of the Ramban. Interestingly, the minhag of Sephardim follows the Rama.<ref>Yabia Omer 2:25:13</ref>The Magen Avraham 46:14 ponders whether a blind person could recite Poke'ach Ivrim or a deaf person recite HaNoten LaSechvi. He concludes<ref>Following the girsa of Rabbi Akiva Eiger and Pri Megadim</ref> that a blind person may recite Poke'ach Ivrim since he benefits from people who can see and guide him; a deaf person, though may not recite HaNoten LaSechvi. Considering that the Magen Avraham is following the Rama, why wouldn't a deaf person be able to recite the bracha which is meant to be a praise for the nature of the world?<ref>Indeed, the Pri Chadash 46:8 takes for granted that a deaf person could recite HaNoten LeSechvi according to the Rama. This is also the ruling of the Derech HaChaim 6:2 and Mishna Brurah 46:25, though he also cites a dissenting opinion. </ref> It is possible to suggest that the Magen Avraham understood that even if the Birkhot HaShachar are a praise to Hashem for the nature of the world, it can only be said by someone who could have potentially experienced that benefit and is at least minimally relates to the occurrence for which the bracha was established.<ref>This logic is drawn out from the language of the Hagahot Maimoniyot cited by the Magen Avraham.</ref> </p>
<p style="text-indent: 2em">The Shulchan Aruch<ref>S"A 46:8</ref> rules like the Rambam, while the Rama accepts the opinion of the Ramban. Interestingly, the minhag of Sephardim follows the Rama.<ref>Yabia Omer 2:25:13</ref>The Magen Avraham 46:14 ponders whether a blind person could recite Poke'ach Ivrim or a deaf person recite HaNoten LaSechvi. He concludes<ref>Following the girsa of Rabbi Akiva Eiger and Pri Megadim</ref> that a blind person may recite Poke'ach Ivrim since he benefits from people who can see and guide him; a deaf person, though may not recite HaNoten LaSechvi. Considering that the Magen Avraham is following the Rama, why wouldn't a deaf person be able to recite the bracha which is meant to be a praise for the nature of the world?<ref>Indeed, the Pri Chadash 46:8 takes for granted that a deaf person could recite HaNoten LeSechvi according to the Rama. This is also the ruling of the Derech HaChaim 6:2 and Mishna Brurah 46:25, though he also cites a dissenting opinion. </ref> It is possible to suggest that the Magen Avraham understood that even if the Birkhot HaShachar are a praise to Hashem for the nature of the world, it can only be said by someone who could have potentially experienced that benefit and is at least minimally relates to the occurrence for which the bracha was established.<ref>This logic is drawn out from the language of the Hagahot Maimoniyot cited by the Magen Avraham.</ref> </p>