Question:

What is a Jew Halakhically required to say each morning as part of Shaharith?

Answer:

1. The following is the minimal Halakhic requirement: Birkoth HaShahar (without Birkoth HaTora which were intended for someone who rises very early, before Q’riyath Sh’ma, in order to study Tora – see TB B’rakhoth 11b and Rambam’s MT T’phila 7:10); Q’riyath Sh’ma with the B’rakoth; T’phila (18 B’rakoth); a brief version of N’philath Apayim (Tahanun) and Ashre.

2. P’suqe D’Zimra was highly recommended by Hazal, as very precisely expressed by Rambam: וְשִׁבְּחוּ חֲכָמִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים, לְמִי שֶׁקּוֹרֶא זְמִירוֹת מִסֵּפֶר תִּלִּים בְּכָל יוֹם (T’phila 7:12). However, where there simply isn’t time to say P’suqe D’Zimra as well as that which is obligatory (and should be said slowly and deliberately), it should be set aside. If one comes to schul late, one should focus on beginning the obligatory section (from Bar’khu onwards) with the ssibur.

3. Rambam z’l made all this plain. He wrote (T’phila 7:17):

סֵדֶר תְּפִלּוֹת, כָּךְ הוּא:  בַּשַּׁחַר, מַשְׁכִּים אָדָם וּמְבָרֵךְ בְּרָכוֹת אֵלּוּ, וְקוֹרֶא הַזְּמִירוֹת וּמְבָרֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶן וּלְאַחֲרֵיהֶן.  וְקוֹרֶא אֶת שְׁמַע וּמְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ, וּמְדַלֵּג הַקְּדֻשָּׁה מִבְּרָכָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁלְּפָנֶיהָ, שְׁאֵין הַיָּחִיד אוֹמֵר קְדֻשָּׁה; וְכִשְׁהוּא חוֹתֵם גָּאַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִיָּד יַעֲמֹד כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּסְמֹךְ גְּאֻלָּה לִתְפִלָּה, וּמִתְפַּלֵּל מֵעוֹמֵד כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ.  וּכְשֶׁיַּשְׁלִים, יֵשֵׁב וְיִפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו, וּמִתְחַנֵּן; וּמַגְבִּיהַּ רֹאשׁוֹ, וּמִתְחַנֵּן מְעַט וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב, בְּדִבְרֵי תַּחֲנוּנִים.  וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִקְרָא "תְּהִלָּה, לְדָוִד"( תהילים קמה,א ) וְיִתְחַנַּן כְּפִי כּוֹחוֹ, וְיִפָּטֵר לְמַעֲשָׂיו.

Rabbi David Bar-Hayim