Between Yishtabach and Barchu: Learning, Tehillim, and Catching Up

It often happens that I finish Yishtabach and find myself waiting for the chazan to continue. Instead of just standing around, I would like to use the time to learn or say some Tehillim. Is that allowed while waiting for the chazan to start Barchu?

Thank you for your question.

I would like to first share with you the halacha, and then bring the source of this halacha.

The halacha is that a person should not learn verbally while waiting for the chazan between Yishtabach and the Kaddish before Yotzer Or. Likewise, one should not say Tehillim at that point.

The Source of This Halacha

The source of this halacha is the Magen Avraham (Siman 54, se’if katan 2), brought by the Mishnah Berurah (Siman 54, se’if katan 4). He brings in the name of the AriZal that even regarding the minhag to say “Shir Hama’alos MiMa’amakim…” during Aseres Yemei Teshuvah between Yishtabach and Yotzer Or, there is a question whether it is permitted to say it.

However, one could ask that we find that the Mishnah Berurah (Siman 422, se’if katan 16) writes that one is allowed to say Hallel between Yishtabach and Yotzer. What is the difference between saying a mizmor of Tehillim and saying Hallel?

Moreinu Hagaon Harav Amrom Fried Shalita explains that Hallel can be considered as a continuation of Pesukei DeZimra, and therefore it is not considered a hefsek.

The Aruch HaShulchan explains that the reason some do have the custom to say Shir Hama’alos during Aseres Yemei Teshuvah is that it became part of the “seder hatefillah”, and therefore it is not considered an interruption. However, saying Tehillim, is not part of the “seder hatefillah” and would be considered a hefsek between Yishtabach and Yotzer.

In Azamro Lishmecha (Issue 317), this topic is discussed extensively, and it is explained that one should not add extra mizmorim, even in the middle of Pesukei DeZimra, and likewise not between Shiras Hayom and Yishtabach.

Catching Up Pesukei DeZimra After Yishtabach

However, if a person skipped parts of Pesukei DeZimra, and after finishing Yishtabach he sees that he still has time before the chazan says Kaddish, he is allowed to say those mizmorim. Lechatchila, one should catch up after Az Yashir before saying Yishtabach.

The source for this halacha is from the Rambam (Hilchos Tefillah, perek 7 halacha 13), who writes that there were those who had the custom to say Parshas HaYom and Parshas Haazinu say it after Yishtabach, before Yotzer Or.

Similarly, the Sefer Haitim (Hilchos Brachos, siman 170) and the Sefer Haeshkol (Hilchos Tefillah U’Krias Shema, siman 5) write that one should say Yishtabach even before Shiras HaYom and Nishmas.

We see from these sources that there is no issur to say pesukim between Yishtabach and Yotzer Or. Therefore, the other parts of Pesukei DeZimra would also be permitted to say.

However, as mentioned above, the minhag is not to interrupt between Yishtabach and Kaddish, even for a tzorech mitzvah, and therefore one should also not say Tehillim at that time.

We also find that the Shaarei Teshuvah (Siman 281, se’if katan 1) writes that if a person skipped Nishmas, he is allowed to make it up after Yishtabach before Yotzer Or.

However, one could refute this proof and say that this is a specific halacha regarding Nishmas, since some opinions consider Nishmas as part of Yishtabach. 

However, we find that the Rema writes (Siman 53, se’if 3) that if there was a long pause after Yishtabach, then the shliach tzibbur should say a few pesukim from Pesukei DeZimra after Yishtabach and only then say Kaddish.

From here we can definitely bring a proof that Pesukei DeZimra may be said after Yishtabach.

For more extensive sources on this topic, see Azamro Lishmecho (Issue #317).

Therefore, circling back to your question, lechatchila, if a person needs to catch up on Pesukei DeZimra, he should do so before saying Yishtabach. He should then say Yishtabach and wait for the chazan, this is the optimal way to do it. However, if he already said Yishtabach, he may still catch up on the parts of Pesukei DeZimra that he missed at that point.

Wishing you well, and may all your tefillos be miskabel b’rachamim u’veratzon.

Magen Avraham 54:2 

 Mishnah Berurah 54:4 

 Mishnah Berurah 422:16 

 Aruch HaShulchan 54 

 Rambam, Hilchos Tefillah 7:13 

 Sefer HaItim, Hilchos Brachos 170 

 Sefer HaEshkol, Hilchos Tefillah U’Krias Shema 5 

 Shaarei Teshuvah 281:1 

 Rema, Orach Chaim 53:3 

 Azamro Lishmecho, Issue 317