Doing Activities Before Davening: Difference between revisions

In general, one shouldn't begin an involved activity before performing a mitzvah at hand. When it comes to davening specifically, there are unique stringencies and leniences for each of the davenings as detailed below.

# There is a positive aspect to learning before [[davening]] to prepare oneself for [[davening]]. <ref>Piskei Teshuvot 89:23. See there where he writes that the minhag is to be lenient to learn before [[Davening]] because of the positive aspect of learning before [[davening]].</ref>

# 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 [[HaNetz HaChama]]. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 89:31 </ref>Nonetheless, it is permissible to learn even after [[Olot Hashachar]] in any of the following three circumstances:

## if one is learning the place where a tzibbur will come to daven, <ref>Mishna Brurah 89:32 </ref>  

## if one asked a friend who wasn’t learning to remind him before the latest time of Shema and [[Tefilla]], <ref>Mishna Brurah 89:34. See the collolary to this for [[Kriyat Shema]] [[Arvit]] in Mishna Brurah 235:17. </ref> or

## if one was teaching Torah to a group or is learning in a group if there’s no concern that one will miss the [[latest time for Shema]]. <ref>S”A 89:6 permits if one is teaching a group. Mishna Brurah 89:35 says that this is only if there’s no concern for missing Shema. Ishei Yisrael 13:34 in name of Mekor Chaim 89:6 includes the case of learning in a group. </ref>

## Some add that it’s permissible if one isn’t learning in a in-depth study. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 89:23 quoting Sh”t Avnei Tzedek 19 (however, see Mishna Brurah 89:33 who implies the opposite). </ref>

# 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>  

# One may take out the garbage on one's way to Shul before [[Davening]].<ref>Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (quoted by [[Tefillah]] Kehilchata c. 6, n. 36 and Ishei Yisrael c. 13, n. 46, p. 122) ruled that it was permitted to quickly look over a newspaper, take out the trash on one's way to Shul, or put a load of sorted laundry into the washer before [[Davening]]. See also Eshel Avraham 89:3 who says that perhaps anything which is a quick and simple work that would be permitted on [[Chol HaMoed]] would be permitted before [[Davening]].</ref>

# It is permitted to do an activity with is a Mitzvah before [[Davening]]. <Ref>Ishrei Yisrael (p. 122). A strong proof is: Rashi ([[Megillah]] 23a s.v. BeYom Tov), Mishna Brurah 529:14</ref> In some contexts, it may only permitted if one can not do that mitzvah after [[Davening]] and also one should say [[Kriyat Shema]] before that activity. <ref>Mishna Brurah 250:1</ref>

# It’s forbidden to travel, beginning from [[Olot HaShachar]] until one davens. <Ref>S”A 89:3 </ref>  

# Under extenuating circumstances--e.g. if one waits until after [[davening]], one won’t be able to travel, one will need to travel alone (which is dangerous), or there is a serious need for [[Parnasa]] (supporting a family)--one may be lenient, but one should first say Birchot HaShachar. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 89:20, Ishei Yisrael 13:23. One should make sure that one is able to pray before the latest time nonetheless--Piskei Teshuvot 89:16 </ref>   

# For the purposes of a mitzvah, one may travel before [[davening]], but it’s preferable, to first say Birchot HaShachar. <Ref>Ishei Yisrael 13:24 </ref> E.g. if there’s no [[minyan]] in the place one lives and there’s a [[minyan]] in the place one is traveling to, or  one will be able to have more concentration in the place one travels to. <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 who already slept that night to wake one up then it’s permissible.<Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 89:22, Ishei Yisrael 13:31</ref> 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>

# 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 praying <ref>Ishei Yisrael 13:21 </ref>  

# Some are lenient to shave before [[Davening]] if one can’t do so afterwards. <Ref> Halacha Brurah (Rav Dovid Yosef) 89:36, Avnei Yishfeh (pg 90) in name of Rav Vosner, Peninei Halacha (pg 162), and Piskei Teshuvot 89:24 are lenient for someone who regularly shaves. However, Sh”t Or Letzion (vol 2 7:9) and Halichot Shlomo ([[Tefilla]] 2:8) quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach are strict under all circumstances and compare [[shaving]] to haircutting. Similarly, Yalkut Yosef ([[Tefillah]] pg 99, Siman 89:32) is strict but adds that those who do so regularly have what to rely on. </ref>

# Prior to [[Davening]] one shouldn’t pick up a child which may soil oneself, or begin to cry when one puts it down and by the time one cleans up or appeases the child one may miss the time for [[Davening]]. <Ref>Ishei Yisrael 13:37 </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]]:

## if one is learning the place where a tzibbur will come to daven,  

## if one asked a friend who wasn’t learning to remind him before the latest time of [[Mincha]], or

## if one was teaching Torah to a group if there’s no concern that one will miss the latest [[time for Mincha]]. <ref>S”A 89:6 with Mishna Brurah regarding [[Shacharit]]</ref>

# From 9 hours in the day, one may not start work that could drag out.<Ref>Mishna Brurah 232:9 </ref> If one always goes to [[minyan]] and there’s a set time, it’s permissible, even after 9½ hours.  <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 232:3 </ref>

# If one always goes to [[minyan]] and there’s a set time, it’s permissible to travel, shower, and shave, even after 9½ hours. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 232:3 </ref>

# One shouldn’t sleep after 9½ hours. If one asks a friend to wake one up, then it’s permissible.  <Ref>Ishei Yisreal 27:27 </ref>

# It’s permissible to learn until [[Tzet HaKochavim]]. However, once [[Tzet HaKochavim]] comes, it’s forbidden to learn until one prays. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 235:17 </ref> Nonetheless, under two circumstances it’s permissible to learn even after [[Tzet HaKochavim]]:

## if one is going to pray with a Tzibbur,<ref>Shaar HaTziyun 235:19 </ref> or

## if one asked a friend who wasn’t learning to remind him before the latest time of [[Mincha]]. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 235:17 at the end </ref>

# If one always goes to [[minyan]] and there’s a set time, it’s permissible to work, travel, shower, and shave, even after Tzet HaChachavim. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 235:6 </ref>

# One shouldn’t sleep within a half hour of Tzet HaChachavim. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 235:17 </ref>If one asks a friend to wake one up, this only works at a time when people aren’t going to sleep and the friend is reliable. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 235:7 </ref>