السلام عليكم Do you have any advice for my Salat al-Shakharit
Hi! שלום עליכם
I'm not sure if you're looking for advice about Jewish or Muslim prayer? The only thing I "know" about Muslim prayer is that the requirements are stricter than for Jewish prayer - at least, according to a coworker who was surprised I could daven shacharit on the bus! I unfortunately don't have a ton of advice about the specifics of Praying Correctly in the Morning, in either faith 😅
I can however offer some advice about building that habit! Because to me that's the hardest part! (This is gonna focus on Jewish morning prayers, but I think the underlying principles should carry over if needed)(under a cut cause it's Long)
If anyone on Jumblr/frumblr has more or better advice than I do, please do chime in!
Firstly, figure out how long it takes you and either find or make time.
Personally I'm disinclined to get up extra early to daven, so I use time that's already in my morning: my commute! I can get through a good chunk of the Shacharit service on the bus, and I have a bit of time between busses too if I need to finish up. This is.... not ideal, because it does effect your kavana and ability to concentrate, but it's better than nothing!
Secondly, start small. The Shacharit service is made up of many many parts, and the full thing can take quite a while. I'd recommend starting with just a few blessings, and as you strengthen the habit add more in. If you try to stick the whole entire service into your morning routine at once, you're gonna get overwhelmed and give up.
Some siddurim might have guidelines in the back on how to properly abbreviate the service, or you can ask a rabbi or trusted friend for help!
You could start with adding מודה אני to your waking up routine, since it's super quick and simple (and scans to You Are My Sunshine which is sweet). Other pretty simple ones to add would be handwashing (נטילת ידיים), the Asher Yatzar (אשר יצר), and Elokhai Neshama (אלהי נשמה). I tend to think of those four blessings as a unit, but I'm not sure how accurate that is? Anyway, there are LOTS more "sections" to the service, but if you're starting small that's as good a place as any.
My final piece of advice is to make it fun if you can! I have a Spotify playlist of some of the brachot, I used to listen to it on my walk to the bus stop in the morning. It can be tough to make it feel fun if you're struggling with the Hebrew or mental health/other factors, but it does feel good when you get into the habit.
Having someone or something to keep you accountable helps too - you can gameify it with the Finch or Habitica (or other) apps, have a sticker chart for yourself, or have a friend help. Whatever works!
Oh, also - I don't put on Tefillin, so if you're someone who holds themself obligated to that mitzvah, unfortunately I can't help there 😅
Good luck to you!! If you struggle with consistency, miss a few days or weeks or more -- don't give up! You can always pick it up again. Hashem and the siddur will still be there when you're ready!
Liturgy question: when Rosh Chodesh falls on a Sunday, what adjustments, if any, are there to a traditional Shabbat morning service on the Saturday that precedes Rosh Chodesh?
"Blessed are You G-d, our Lord, King of the Universe, who gave the Rooster intelligence to differenciate between day and night."
[from the Morning Brachot]
According to many interpretations of this Bracha, the Rooster is actually a reference to the human mind, and night and day is a reference to right and wrong. We thank Hashem for giving humans the gift of Free Will, and the yearning to understand the difference between right and wrong.
Knocker for calling people to morning service (shulklopfer)
Hungary, 18th century. Walnut wood, carved.
Inscribed in Hebrew with the initials of the sentence “to rise in the morning in service to the creator” [Shulhan Arukh, Orhot Haim, Laws of Rising in the Morning 1:1].
Had a very special shacharit with my garden and decided to document the warmth I felt in my heart. True joy can be so rare that I always want to thank Hashem for the gems among the dark mine. I hope all are healing and fighting the good fight.
How do you pray
So many unanswered prayers?
You still sit there chanting
Worn pages.
The same siddur you've used for years.
I cannot pray like that
And I think He answers my prayers,
But the words still crumble from overuse.
They become dust in my mouth
Too dry and old to swallow.
I cough and spit to get them out.
