Hello Rav! Im trying to discern which portions of Shacharis I should say when praying a shortened Shacharis (around 30 minutes) before work. Most guides online do a general overview of what to pray, but those general terms are hard to understand and apply to my own siddur (ArtScroll, Seif). Could you provide any help here with a more detailed list of what to include for Shacharis? Or at the very least the minimums and the recommended parts, and then I can add to that list with those parts of Shacharis I am attached to? Thank you, Rav!

Shalom, Thank you for your question. Firstly, let me send you blessings to be successful with all your spiritual growth. The following answer is based on the assumption you’re a male (which is what the website tells me – but if it’s incorrect please write back to us and I’ll answer again). The minimum for Shacharit is – 1) Washing the hands and the blessing for handwashing and Asher Yatzar (blessing after using the bathroom). 2) The blessings on Tallit and Tefillin (assuming you have both – if not, that’s something to work on). 3) The blessings of the Torah together with the parts of Torah learning that are found directly after the blessings. 4) The blessing Elokia Neshama – “My G-d, the soul… who restores sould to dead bodies”. 5) The long list of Morning Blessings up until the end of the Blessing HaMaavir Shiena – “Who removes sleep from my eyes… Blessed are You Hashem, who bestows beneficent kindness upon His people Israel”. 6) After that skip ahead in the Siddur – (If you have more time we’ll add some parts of Pesukai D’Zimra here, which I’ll tell you about later). 7) Go to where it says “Borchu” in the siddur (Which is a big bold heading followed by the words “Blessings of the Shema”). Because you are not praying with a minyan, you can’t say Borchu, but start directly after that with the blessings of Shema – starting with Baruch Atah Hashem… Who forms light and creates darkness” and start from there. 8) From there you will want to say everything found in the next 16 pages or so – that is the blessings before Shema, the Shema itself, the long blessing after the Shema, and then the Shemoneh Esrei – Amidah. This is the major part of Shacharit – saying the Shema, it’s blessings and then the silent Amidah. 9) Now, how much time is left? If you have more time, add Ashrei – Uva L’Tzion (found 16 pages after the end of the Amidah, in my [Ashkanazi] Artscroll.) Say Ashrie, and the section beginning U’va L’Tzion – A redeemer shall come to Zion. 10) Then say Alainu (the next page on, or so). 11) Then, if you have more time add the song of day, found after that (or just before Alainu in some versions of the Siddur). 12) If you find that this does not fill up your 30 minuets, you’ll want to add parts of Pesukai D’Zimra that I mentioned above. A good way to start is to say “Baruch She’amah” “Blessed if he who spoke…” (that one paragraph), the jump to “Ahrai” “Praiseworthy are those” found a few pages latter (psalm 145, which goes according to the Aleph Bet), then finish with “Yishtabach” several pages after that. I hope this is a help. You might find it useful to sit down with this, together with your siddur and someone who can “show you around”. Blessings.