Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

category:  Chassidut

Missing Shacharit

The Rav Name: Rabbi Yitzchak Arad

B”H
Hi hope you’re doing well,
I hate to push but if you see this today, 7/1/2021, please respond as soon as you see it
it’s after chatzos now, and I don’t know what to do in terms of davening, I started and said all karbanos early in the morning, but then fell asleep and woke up after chatzos [it may have been partial negligence], I don’t know what to do in terms of davening, what parts do I say, what parts do I skip, I found other articles taht said one should never begin davening before, but what’s considered beginning? and if one didnt, what should be done now? can I say all birchos krias shema and shmoneh esray for mincha and shacaris? I dont know what to do


Shalom and thank you your question,which I just received. According to certain opinions, if you didn’t complete your Shacharit prayer before Chatzot of the day, you have missed out, and when you pray the Minchah service, you need to pray the Shmona Esrei prayer twice, as compensation, ipso facto.

This principle applies if you missed the Minchah prayer also, as ‘compensation’ you pray the Shmona Esrei prayer twice at Ma’ariv.

The practice in Chabad is a little different. There is a differentiation between the Mitzvah of praying on time, and praying at all. Prayer corresponds to the practice of bringing sacrifices in Beit haMikdash,(the Temple,) as it is written in Tehillim, “Uneshalma parim sefatenu…” ” Our lips shall be as payment for the cattle. “

As long as the Beit haMikdash is not rebuilt, we connect with G-d by praying in a manner that corresponds to the timing of the sacrifices that we are currently unable to offer. Unfortunately, if you missed this timing, you did indeed miss out on this aspect of praying.

However, Halachically it is permissible to say the Shema during the whole day. Even if you missed praying on time, you still can complete your prayers to connect with HaShem.

Of course, you must sincerely try to avoid such situations in the future, and in the Tanya, a basic text of Chassidic teaching, it is explained that when you miss doing a positive Mitzvah,you have missed it… There is now a spiritual lack.

The Tanya also explains however, that returning to G-d through sincere love of G-d (accessed by contemplating His greatness,) and happiness in being able to serve Him, is a higher form of the Mitzvah of Teshuvah. Teshuvah is commonly translated as repentance, but is comprised of the Hebrew words ‘Tashuv Hei’, which mean ‘return the Hei to G-d’s name’.

Chassidic and Kabbalistic teaching is that the name (one of many names) of G-d is composed of the Hebrew letters Yud,then Hei, Vav,and then another Hei.These letters correspond to four worlds, the lowest level world is the physical world that we are aware of and function in, and corresponds to the latter Hei of The Name. When we learn Torah and do Mitzvot, we are elevating this physical world to it’s lofty spiritual source.

When we transgress, we cover up G-dly light more, detatching ourselves and the physicality we deal with from G-d.The opposite however, is also true… when we sincerely return to HaShem, make good resolutions, and try hard to stick to them, we renew the connection, and heal the breach. In fact,they say a rope that was broken is even stronger when retied….

Much continued success with your Avodat HaShem, your service of G-d!

Remember that happiness and placing our trust in HaShem that everything we experience is good and part of the Divine plan, are the best recipe for success jn all your endeavors!


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