Doing Activities Before Davening: Difference between revisions

# If one usually goes to daven in a minyan, then, it’s permissible to learn before Davening even after Olot HaShachar and so, the minhag is to be learn before Davening. <ref>S”A 89:6, Piskei Teshuvot 89:23 </ref>

# It’s permissible to learn until Olot HaShachar. However, once Olot Hashachar comes, it’s forbidden to begin learning until one prays. <Ref>S”A 89:6 </ref>Some are lenient to permit learning after Olot HaShachar until close to Netz HaChama. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 89:31 </ref>Nonetheless, under three circumstances it’s permissible to learn even after Olot HaShachar:

# If one already began learning before Olot HaShachar, one should continue and doesn’t have to stop. If one began learning after Olot HaShachar, some say that one should stop for Kriyat Shema and some say that one doesn’t have to stop as long as there’s time prior to the latest time for Shema. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 89:30 </ref>

# Someone who can’t learn after Olot HaShachar and then tzibbur is only Davening later, it’s preferable to daven earlier and then learn even though one won’t daven together at the time of the tzibbur. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 89:33 </ref>

# It’s forbidden to do work after Olot HaShachar until one prays. From a half hour before Olot HaShachar it’s preferable to say Birchot HaShachar before working. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 89:37, Ishei Yisrael 13:18 </ref> However, work for a mitzvah is permissible <ref>Ishei Yisrael 13:19 </ref>  

# If one began working prior to Olot HaShachar it’s permissible to continue afterwards. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 70:23-5, Ishei Yisrael 13:22 </ref>  

# It’s forbidden to travel from Olot HaShachar until one prays. <Ref>S”A 89:3 </ref> If there’s an extenuating circumstance such as where one won’t be able to travel after prayer, or that one will have to travel alone and it’ll be dangerous, then one may be lenient but one should first say Birchot HaShachar. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 89:20, Ishei Yisrael 13:23 </ref> Nonetheless, many are lenient and have what to rely on if there’s a serious need for Parnasa (supporting a family) and if waits it’ll waste a lot of time as long as one says Brachot HaShachar prior to traveling. Even in this case one should make sure that one is able to pray before the latest time. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 89:16 </ref>

# If one stayed up all night, then it’s forbidden to go to sleep within a half hour before Olot HaShachar until one prays. If one asks a friend to wake one up then it’s permissible. If one can’t ask a friend and one can’t pray, one may be lenient and just say Kriyat Shema and then go to sleep. <Ref>Ishei Yisrael 13:31 </ref>

# If one was sleeping and woke up to go to the bathroom one may go back to sleep even after Olot HaShachar as long as one will not miss the latest time for Shema. <Ref>Ishei Yisrael 13:31, Piskei Teshuvot 89:22 </ref>

# It’s permissible to go to the bathhouse or cut one's hair until Olot HaShachar but afterwards one can’t start to go to the bathhouse or cut one's hair. <Ref>S”A 89:7, Mishna Brurah 89:36 </ref> However, a short shower with a little soap for someone who feels unclean in order to prepare for Davening is permissible. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 89:24 </ref>  

# It’s permissible to go to mikveh after Olot HaShachar prior to prayering <ref>Ishei Yisrael 13:21 </ref>  

# It’s permissible to learn until Mincha Ketana (9½ hours into the day). However, once Mincha Ketana comes, it’s forbidden to learn until one prays. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 232:11 writes that the laws of learning before mincha are the same as those for Shacharit after Olot HaShachar. </ref> Nonetheless, under four circumstances it’s permissible to learn even after Mincha Ketana: