Overview
Misheyakir (משיכיר), meaning "when one can recognize," refers to the time when there is sufficient light to recognize a casual acquaintance from a distance of four amos (approximately 6 feet). This is the earliest time one may put on tallis and tefillin and recite the morning Shema.
Talmudic Source
The Mishnah in Berachos 9b states:
"From when may one recite the Shema in the morning? From when one can distinguish between techeiles (blue) and white."
Rabbi Eliezer says: "Between blue and leek-green." Rabbi Meir says: "When one can distinguish between a wolf and a dog." Others say: "When one can recognize his acquaintance from four amos away."
The halacha follows the opinion that one must be able to distinguish between blue and white threads — the colors of the tzitzis. See Shulchan Aruch OC 58:1 and Mishnah Berurah 58:6.
The 11° Calculation
Rav Meir Posen, in his classic work Or Meir (7:2), establishes that misheyakir corresponds to when the sun is 11 degrees below the horizon.
Different authorities use slightly different degrees:
| Degrees | Source |
|---|---|
| 11° | Or Meir 7:2 |
| 10.2° | Chabad (45 min before sunrise in Jerusalem at equinox) |
| 12.9° | Rav Tukaczinsky (60 min before sunrise at equinox in Jerusalem) |
Time-Based Opinions
When expressed as fixed minutes before sunrise:
| Minutes | Source |
|---|---|
| 35 min | Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 4:6) |
| 36 min | Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky (Emes L'Yaakov OC 58:1) |
| 52 min | Piskei Teshuvos 18:5 (note 37) |
| 60 min | Rav Tukaczinsky, Binyan Tzion 2:16 |
Weather Considerations
According to Rav Dovid Feinstein and Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the Steipler), misheyakir does not depend solely on a fixed time or sun position, but on one's actual ability to see based on weather conditions. On an overcast day, misheyakir may be later than usual.
However, the accepted common practice is to base misheyakir on the sun's position, as weather varies and this provides consistency.
Practical Applications
Misheyakir is the earliest time for:
- Wearing tallis with the blessing
- Putting on tefillin with the blessing
- Reciting Shema (fulfilling the mitzvah)
- Birchos HaShachar according to some opinions
Important Notes
- One should not put on tallis and tefillin before misheyakir, as the mitzvah requires sufficient daylight
- In cases of great need (such as catching an early flight), some authorities permit putting on tefillin from Alos, but without a bracha until misheyakir
- The ideal time for Shema and tefillin is closer to sunrise (Hanetz)