PRAYER

182. It is permissible to drink water[284], tea or coffee[285] before morning prayers (shacharith). It is not permissible to do so after prayers and before kiddush, whether on the eve of[286] or in the morning[287] of the Sabbath or Festival. These rules apply to both men and women[288].

183. A patient who is unable to pray before eating may eat[289], but not before reciting the blessing of kiddush; in this situation he may not even drink water before kiddush[290]. He should however try to at least recite the morning blessings and the shema before he eats[291].

184. An ill woman who is unable to pray as usual because of her illness or because of weakness, may say a short prayer only, praising the Almighty, asking Him for her needs and thanking Him, before she eats[292].

185. A seriously ill patient who is due to undergo an operation early on the Sabbath morning, and knows that he will be unable to pray later that day, may start praying at dawn until he reaches the blessings over the shema (éåöø àåø). When it is time to put on his tallith, he does so and then continues with the rest of the prayers[293]. If the operation is due earlier, he may recite all the prayers from dawn onwards[294], including the musaf prayer[295].

186. A patient who is unable to speak, may recite the prayers to himself[296]. If later that day he is able to speak, he must recite aloud the last sentence of the shema thereby remembering the exodus from Egypt[297]. Similarly, if the place where he is lying is not clean and he is unable to clean it, he may recite the prayers in his mind. If however, there is excreta, urine or a bad smell, he may not even recite the prayers in his mind[298]. He should regret the fact that he cannot carry out his obligation to pray; the Almighty will surely reward him for this since he had no alternative[299].


[284] Orach Chayyim 89:3.

[285] Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 52:9.

[286] Orach Chayyim 271:4.

[287] Orach Chayyim 289:1.

[288] Mishnah Berurah 289:6.

[289] Mishnah Berurah 89:3.

[290] R. Sh.Z. Auerbach in Lev Avraham Pt. 2, page 20.

[291] Rema 89:3; Mishnah Berurah 89:22; Be’ur Halachah 89 s.v. ve-lo.

[292] Oral communication from R. Y.Y. Neuwirth.

[293] Orach Chayyim 58:3. See Mishnah Berurah 58:13 and Be’ur Halachah ad par. 1 s.v. zeman; Kaf ha-Chayyim 58:17.

[294] See Nishmat Avraham Pt. 1, Orach Chayyim 58:1 (page 24).

[295] Mishnah Berurah 286:1.

[296] Orach Chayyim 62:4 and Rema at Orach Chayyim 94:6. See Mishnah Berurah 7 and Be’ur Halachah s.v. yatsa. See Mishnah Berurah 94:21; Nishmat Avraham Pt. 1, Orach Chayyim 62:1 (page 26) and 94:3 (page 62).

[297] Because it may be mentioned any time during the day; oral communication from R. Y.Y. Neuwirth.

[298] Rema, ibid.

[299] Mishnah Berurah 62:9.