Zerizin Makdimin LeMitzvot: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→In Competition with Other Principles
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
Similarly, the first Halacha we are instructed in the Shulchan Aruch tells us that a person must wake up in the morning "like a lion" to "serve his creator" that he should "wake up the dawn." <ref>S.A 1:1</ref> Even in the winter when one is cold and feels uncomfortable rising from his warm bed or if a person is tired, one should overcome his desire to remain in bed.<ref>M.B 1:1 Particularly in the summer, when the nights are shorter and one may be tired, one should make sure to rise to serve Hashem with alacrity. One should imagine himself as if going to a meeting with a king of flesh and blood in order to inspire himself to wake up on time.</ref> | Similarly, the first Halacha we are instructed in the Shulchan Aruch tells us that a person must wake up in the morning "like a lion" to "serve his creator" that he should "wake up the dawn." <ref>S.A 1:1</ref> Even in the winter when one is cold and feels uncomfortable rising from his warm bed or if a person is tired, one should overcome his desire to remain in bed.<ref>M.B 1:1 Particularly in the summer, when the nights are shorter and one may be tired, one should make sure to rise to serve Hashem with alacrity. One should imagine himself as if going to a meeting with a king of flesh and blood in order to inspire himself to wake up on time.</ref> | ||
==Not Passing Up Mitzvot== | |||
# There is a general rule that one may not pass over or delay doing a mitzvah that comes one's way. According to many poskim this is a Biblical principle, while others hold it is rabbinic.<ref>Chayei Adam 68:1 quotes Tosfot Yoma 33b and Tosfot Zevachim 51a who imply that ''ein ovrin al hamitzvot'' is Biblical unlike the Radvaz 1:529 who writes that it is rabbinic.</ref> | |||
# It only applies when one is deciding to do one of two mitzvot. However, if a mitzvah doesn't apply now there's no prohibition to pass over that mitzvah.<ref>Gevurat Ari (Yoma 15b)</ref> Similarly, if one is faced with two mitzvot and one only has time to fulfill one of them then there is no prohibition to pass over a mitzvah.<ref>Chayei Adam 68:1</ref> Rather one should do the mitzvah according to the following factors: | |||
## One should do the mitzvah that is more severe such as tefillin more kadosh than tallit.<ref>Yoma 33, Chayei Adam 68:1</ref> | |||
## If both are equally severe then choose the mitzvah that is more common.<ref>Chayei Adam 68:1</ref> | |||
## If they are equally common choose the mitzvah that expires first.<ref>Kiddushin 29b, Magen Avraham 556, Chayei Adam 68:1</ref> | |||
### If a mitzvah is more severe than another it takes precedence over another less severe mitzvah even if the less severe one expires sooner. For example, if on Erev Yom Kippur someone is in an army that would stop him from doing mitzvot and he can either take guard duty today and then fast tomorrow or take guard duty tomorrow and fulfill tefillin today he should take the guard duty today since the mitzvah to fast on Yom Kippur is more severe than tefillin.<ref>Chayei Adam 68:1</ref> | |||
# There is no consideration of not passing over a mitzvah if he wouldn't be involved in the mitzvah himself. For example, passing over the opportunity to watch a mitzvah so that it would be a greater publicity of the mitzvah isn't a prohibition.<ref>Yoma 70a, Chayei Adam 68:1</ref> | |||
# If someone can do the mitzvah later in a better fashion then one may delay it and it isn't considered passing over a mitzvah.<ref>Chayei Adam 68:1, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 429 regarding waiting for kiddush levana until motzei shabbat. See Gra who argues not to delay.</ref> | |||
==In Competition with Other Principles== | ==In Competition with Other Principles== | ||
===Hiddur Mitzvah=== | ===Hiddur Mitzvah=== | ||
