When and How to Wake up

From Halachipedia

Waking Up in the Morning

  1. One should wake up strong like a lion to serve the will of the Creator. [1]
  2. One shouldn't get up immediately because it dangerous to one's health rather one should pause momentarily and then get up. [2]

Shiviti

  1. One should always be conscience of Hashem's presense by thinking of the Pasuk "Shaviti Hashem LeNegdi Tamid" שויתי ה' לנגדי תמיד (Tehilim 16:8) [3]
  2. Some have the practice to hang up a poster in a glass casing in Shul with a inscription of "Shaviti" (and sometimes the perek of Tehilim 67 "Lamanase'ach Benginot" in the shape of a Menorah). However if it's not encased it's not improper to keep it up. [4]

Modeh Ani

  1. When one wakes up one should say "Modeh Ani Lifanecha Melech Chai VeKayam, Shehechazarti BeChemlah, Rabba Emunatcha" מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקים שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה, רבה אמונתך with a pause between BeChemlah and Rabba. [5]
  2. One can say Modeh Ani even before washing one's hands. [6]
  3. It’s preferable to cover one’s head with a Yarmalka or one’s blanket while saying Modeh Ani. [7]

references

  1. S"A 1:1. Piskei Teshuvot 1:1 expands on the idea in explaining that the Torah and Chazal used physical metephors for spiritual tasks so that we can relate to the expressions used.
  2. Magan Avraham 1:3 says that even though one should get up strongly like a lion to serve Hashem, one shouldn't stand up immediately because it's dangerous as it says in Gemara Gittin 70a. All achronim concur including the Mishna Brurah 1:8, Kaf HaChaim 1:4, and Halacha Brurah 1:1.
  3. Rama 1:1 writes as the first comment in the book that one should keep in mind the principle of "Shaviti". The Arizal's practice was to keep an inscription of Hashem's name before him always (Shaar Ruach HaKodesh 21). This is brought down by the achronim including Bear Heteiv 1:3, Mishna Brurah 1:4, Kaf HaChaim 1:2, and Halacha Brurah 1:3.
  4. Shaarei Teshuva 1:3 in the name of the Tevuot Shor that one should nullify the practice to hang up Klaf with Shaviti inscribed on it because people aren't careful about it leading to a desecration of a holy script and possibly an erasing of Hashem's name. Shaarei Teshuva says that if it's covered by glass then it's of no concern. This is brought as halacha by the Mishna Brurah 1:4.
  5. This is first sourced in the Seder Hayom (Beginning of the book; Rabbi Makhir 16th century Tzfat) and then is quoted as halacha by all the achronim including Mishna Brurah 1:8, Chaye Adam 1:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:4, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 1:6, Halacha Brurah 1:2.
  6. Because Modeh Ani doesn't have Hashem's name in it, it can be recited before washing hands. so rules Chaye Adam 1:1, Kaf HaChaim 1:4, Mishna Brurah 1:8, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 1:6, and Halacha Brurah 1:2.
  7. Tefilla K’hilchoso 9:2, Halachically Speaking (vol 3, article 1, pg 2). See Rivevot Ephraim 4:2.