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Newspaper Before Shacharis

Is it permitted to read a newspaper before davening? If someone asks me to bring him the newspaper before he davened is it wrong for me to do so?

Answer:

To glance through headlines, which is only a minor action, is fine. It is not permitted however to read the newspaper in depth.

If somebody asks for the newspaper you can bring it for him.

Sources:

See Halichos Shlomo 2:5.

Although it is forbidden to perform a “melachah” or attend to one’s personal needs before davening (Orach Chaim 89:3), a small action, such as merely glancing through headlines and the like, is not included in this.

This is based on the Shulchan Aruch Ha-Rav, who explains that the reason for the prohibition is because one should not engage one’s mind in anything that can distract a person from davening.

Others are more stringent in this matter: See Piskei Teshuvos, siman 89, no. 14 (p. 670).

The Shevet HaKehosi notes that even if reading a newspaper was not prohibited on account of attending to needs before davening, another reason why reading the paper is a problem is that one may not begin davening in a state of anger (Shulchan Aruch 93:2-3), but only in happiness. Reading a newspaper usually sours one’s mood, so that it is not recommended.

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