Working Before Shacharis

Question: I have an early morning work shift. Is it better to daven shacharis alone before work or wait and daven later with a minyan?

Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 14a) teaches that one must not attend to personal affairs before davening. Based on this, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 89:3) rules that engaging in work or travel before davening is prohibited. This restriction begins at alos hashachar (dawn), the earliest time one may daven. However, as davening is not allowed before alos hashachar, it is permitted to work during that time.

The Mishna Berura (89:17; 37) advises that if one plans to start work within half an hour of alos hashachar, they should first recite birchos hashachar (see Rema 89:3; Biur Halacha 70:5). Additionally, the Mishna Berura (70:23) explains that someone who starts working before alos hashachar may continue working afterward, provided they ensure they recite shema and daven shacharis before their respective deadlines (zemanim).

The Mishna Berura (89:20) and R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 1:66) emphasise that if one begins work after alos hashachar, they must daven before starting work, even if this means davening alone. While davening with a minyan is ideal, the obligation to daven promptly takes precedence. Furthermore, the Beis Yosef (OC 89:3), quoting the Terumas Hadeshen (18), stresses that it is not enough to simply recite birchos hashachar in such cases.

In conclusion, if one begins work before alos hashachar, they should recite birchos hashachar beforehand and plan to daven shacharis later. However, if the work starts after alos hashachar, one must daven first, even if it means forgoing the minyan. In such cases, it is praiseworthy to visit a shul after work to hear kaddish and participate in other aspects of tefillos betzibur.