Torah.org Siman 1: The Law Concerning Arising in the Morning The Judaism Site https://torah.org/learning/mishna-berura-s1/ SIMAN 1: THE LAW CONCERNING ARISING IN THE MORNING by Torah.org 1:1. One should strengthen himself like a lion to get up in the morning (1) for the service of his Creator, in order that he "wake up" (2) the morning [meaning arise before dawn]. {Rema: In any event, one should not delay the time for praying [beyond the time] (3) that the congregation prays (Tur).} {Rema: "I have set Hashem constantly before me" is a major principle in the Torah, and in the virtues of (4) the righteous who walk before G-d. This is true because the way a person sits, moves and conducts himself alone in his house is not like the way he sits, moves and conducts himself in the presence of a great king, nor are his speech and facial expression however he likes, [as they are] when he is with the members of his household or with relatives, as when having an audience with the king. So how much more so [should his conduct etc. be not like that which might otherwise be at home] when he considers that the Great King, the Holy One Blessed be He, whose glory fills the whole world, is standing over him and sees all his deeds (as it is written "'Is a man [able] to hide himself in any hiding place and I cannot see him?', says Hashem"). [From this realization] one will immediately be overcome with the fear and humility that comes from the dread of Hashem, may He be Blessed, and he will constantly be ashamed (The Guide to the Perplexed Part 3 Chapter 52), and [on the contrary] he will not be ashamed (5) because of those people who (6) mock his service of Hashem, may He be Blessed. (7) Even in one's conduct in private or when he goes to bed, he should know before whom he is laying down, and when he wakes up he should get up (8) quickly [in order to carry out] the service of his Creator, may He be Blessed and Exalted (Tur).} MB 1: For the Service of his Creator -- Because man was created for this purpose, as the verse says, "All that is called in My Name, and for My Honor, I Created it, etc." And even if one's inclination will attempt to draw him off in the winter by saying "How can you get up in the morning, when the cold is so intense?" -- or in the summer by saying "How can you arise from your bed, when you are still not well-rested from your sleep?" -- nonetheless he should overpower it and not listen to it, and think to himself: if he would be required to stand in service before a king of flesh and blood, how careful and quick would he be to arise early to prepare himself for his service? All the more so, and the ultimate comparison between minor and severe, [when one is called to serve] in front of the King Who Reigns over kings, the Holy One Blessed be He. Page: 1 Torah.org Siman 1: The Law Concerning Arising in the Morning The Judaism Site https://torah.org/learning/mishna-berura-s1/ MB 2: The Morning -- In the Shnei Luchos HaBris, he writes that there is a Kabbalistic principle to tie together day and night with Torah study or prayer [during the transition], both morning and evening. Immediately upon arising, if one does not want to go back to sleep he should wash his hands even if he plans to remain lying down, and all the more so he should not move four paces [6-8 feet] without washing his hands -- and one must be very careful about this. The Holy Zohar says stunning things about this, and the great punishment that it brings, because the person is retaining an impure spirit upon him. [This has to do with Kabbalistic understandings about sleep, the relationship between body and soul, and what happens upon arising. -- YM] Nonetheless, Heaven forbid that a person should violate any prohibition because he does not have water with which to wash his hands, such as preventing himself from attending to his bodily functions, or taking water that a friend prepared for himself -- if he is not certain that he will immediately replace the water (there are those who stumble in this area). If a situation arises where the only water available is far away, and he has no one to bring it to him, then some who guard their souls have the custom to go a few steps of less than four paces, pause, and repeat [until they reach the water]. The Sha'arei Tshuvah writes that this does not appear correct; rather, it is better that one go quickly in order not to leave a bad spirit upon his hands. There are those who say that in this regard we consider an entire building to be like four paces, but one should not rely upon this except in a pressing situation. If a person arises at night, and does not have sufficient water to wash his hands three times properly in order to remove the impure spirit (and also to wash his hands again at dawn), then Heaven forbid that he should be idle from words of Torah for this reason until daybreak. Rather, he should use a bit of the water, or he should clean his hands with any cleansing agent available, say the appropriate blessings, and learn the Talmud and Laws normally. MB 3: That the Congregation prays -- Even though the time for prayer will not have passed, there is still a mitzva to pray with the congregation (and see later at the end of MB 9). MB 4: The Righteous -- Which is that they constantly establish within their minds that they are standing in front of the Blessed G-d, because the Holy One, Blessed be He, fills the entire world with his glory. It is written in the name of the Ari, of blessed memory, that one should constantly formulate the four-letter Ineffable Name of G-d (Yud -- Hey -- Vav -- Heh) [See a Hebrew edition of the MB for vowels] in his mind's eye; this is the fundamental [indicated in the verse of Psalms] "I have set HaShem before me always," and it is of tremendous value for inducing fear of Heaven. For this reason, there were those who had the practice of drawing Menoros [candelabras in the traditional shape, with arms reaching to each side] on paper with designs, in order to place them in prayer books, and they wrote upon them "I have set HaShem [the four letter name] etc." and other names of G-d. This Menorah design was called a "Shivisi" [the first word of the Hebrew verse, "I have Page: 2 Torah.org Siman 1: The Law Concerning Arising in the Morning The Judaism Site https://torah.org/learning/mishna-berura-s1/ set, etc."]. The reason for doing this was in order that they remember not to have idle conversations during prayers, due to their awe of G-d. The Shaarei Tshuva wrote in the name of the Tevuas Shor that it is appropriate to make great efforts [lit. wage war] to stop this practice, because in the majority of cases the holiness of these papers is not protected properly, and they become scattered about on the ground, and in several cases the name of G-d is erased. However, it would appear that this does not refer to the large Menoros drawn on parchment and posted in the synagogue behind glass in front of the Chazzan's lectern, because the reason of potential desecration does not apply. [These Menoros are still often found in the prayer books of Sephardic Jewry, but either printed directly on the cover or on one of the pages inside, rather than as a loose paper. -YM] Until here were his words [meaning those of the Shaarei Tshuva]. One should object, however, to those who post them at the lectern without a glass cover, because as a result of the candles placed there the name of G-d becomes erased in the majority of cases, Heaven forbid. MB 5: Because of those People -- Nonetheless you should not argue with them, because the trait of insolence is very disgusting, and one should not use or exhibit it at all even in the service of Hashem. It will become part of the person, and he will then be insolent even for things other than the service of HaShem. See in the Biur Halacha. MB 6: Mock his Service -- So too, if he is a normal person who is in the presence of great people, he should not be ashamed to learn from them, or do a mitzva in front of them, although it is better to do the mitzva not in front of them if possible. But if it is in front of other common people who would learn from him, some say that it is better to do a mitzvah in front of them in order that they learn from his behavior. Nonetheless his heart should be directed for the sake of Heaven, and not in order to become glorified from it, Heaven forbid. MB 7: Even in One's Conduct in Private -- Meaning that even when one is alone in his house, his ways should still be with Hashem his G-d as he concludes.