Davening Lying Down

Question

After being unemployed for 5 months, I recently started a new job where I work until 3 in the morning. When I get home, I go to sleep around 4 AM. I don’t feel like getting up until at least noon, which is obviously too late to daven Shacharis. I very frequently wake up briefly around 7-8. At this time, I don’t have the energy to get out of bed and stand or sit up very long, but I feel capable of reading in bed and reciting morning prayers while lying in bed. Since I started this routine, I’ve been davening Shacharis without tefillin while lying in bed and then going back to sleep. I’ve even been reciting Amidah while lying down. I then put on tefillin later after I am fully awake and able to function out of bed. I don’t know what else to do.

As a rabbi, would you say that for someone in this predicament, is it preferable to daven Shacharis while lying in bed or not to daven at all? Am I doing the right thing or should I stop? Changing my routine at this time is simply not an option at this time.

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    First, please allow me to say how happy I am that you have found a job after having been without one for such a long time. I hope and pray that Hashem will bless you with success in all that you do.

    Is it the optimum way to daven lying down? No. But it is absolutely better than not davening at all. If you have the energy it would be better if you could sit up in bed rather than lie down. Even if you are able to sit up just from time to time it would be the right thing to do. In all events, you should put on your Tefillin later on in the day when you have woken up and are davening Mincha.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team