Evening Prayer After Dawn

Greetings,

1. It should be noted that the time for evening prayer is until dawn, but one must ensure to recite the Shema of the evening before midnight, and it may only be recited until dawn in extenuating circumstances (Shulchan Aruch, Siman 236, Section 3).

2. One who was forced or was ill, and did not pray the evening prayer while it was still night, and dawn has already arrived (but it is not yet time for sunrise), should recite the Shema with its blessings, but not say the blessing of Hashkivenu, and he should not pray the Shmoneh Esrei (the Amidah), but rather wait until he prays Shacharit, and after morning prayer, he should pray the Shmoneh Esrei to make up for the evening prayer (see Shulchan Aruch, Rema there, Section 4, Mishna Berura there, and Halacha Brura there, Section 26).

3. One who went to sleep without setting a guard (or alarm clock) it is not clear that he is considered forced (see Mkor Chaim, Siman 228, Section 8, as well as the responsa of Keren L'David, part Orach Chaim, end of Siman 18, and the responsa of Shevet Halevi, part 4, Siman 41), therefore in such a case, he should recite the Shema only without its blessings.

This appears to be in accordance with the opinion of the Pnei Menachem zt”l in his book Chesed L'Alafim (Siman 236, Section 4) who wrote, and it seems that for us who pray the evening prayer before the day, if it happens that one fell asleep until dawn, it is good that he recites it at dawn, as if it does not help to fulfill his obligation, he has not lost anything, just like one who reads from the Torah.

With blessings,

Hillel Meirs