The first time of the day that has halachic significance is known as \u201camud hashachar<\/i><\/b>\u201d or \u201calot hashachar<\/i>\u201d (dawn). In a case of extenuating circumstances, one may begin reciting Shema<\/i> and praying the Amidah<\/i> from the time of amud hashachar<\/i>, but under normal conditions it is prohibited. The Acharonim<\/i> disagree whether amud hashachar<\/i> is the time when the first glimmer of light appears in the east (Magen Avraham<\/i>, Pri Megadim<\/i>), or slightly afterwards, when that first light spreads out somewhat upon the eastern sky (Eliyah Rabbah<\/i>, Gra<\/i>).<\/p>\n
After amud hashachar<\/i>, the time called \u201cmisheyakir<\/i><\/b>\u201d arrives. This is when enough light has already spread over the earth so that a person can recognize a friend, whom he is not accustomed to meeting, from a distance of four amot<\/i>. At that time it is also possible to distinguish between techelet<\/i> (a shade of skylike blue) and white. According to most poskim<\/i>, l\u2019chatchilah<\/i> one may recite Keriat Shema<\/i> then, but the time to recite the Amidah<\/i> l\u2019chatchilah<\/i> has not yet arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cNetz hachamah<\/i><\/b>\u201d is sunrise, when the first part of the sun is visible. At that moment, the time to recite the Amidah<\/i> l’chatchilah<\/i> begins. One who recites Keriat<\/i> Shema<\/i> right before sunrise and prays the Amidah<\/i> immediately with netz hachamah<\/i> is known to be praying \u201cvatikin<\/i><\/b>,\u201d greatly praised by the Chachamim<\/i>.<\/p>\n
All of the mitzvot<\/i> performed during the day, such as brit milah<\/i>, begin at sunrise, since the time of day is defined by the sun. However, b\u2019dieved<\/i>, if they are performed from amud hashachar<\/i> their obligations are fulfilled because, from a certain standpoint, the day begins even from the first glimmer of light (Megillah<\/i> 20a).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The first time of the day that has halachic significance is known as \u201camud hashachar\u201d or \u201calot hashachar\u201d (dawn). In a case of extenuating circumstances, one may begin reciting Shema and praying the Amidah from the time of amud hashachar, but under normal conditions it is prohibited. The Acharonim disagree whether amud hashachar is the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-11-the-times-of-keriat-shema-and-shacharit"],"yoast_head":"\n