The main themes of the Siman
Structure of the Siman — the 6 seifim
| Seif | Subject | Theme | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| א׳ | לבישת החלוק | Tzniyus upon rising | Not to put on one's garment while sitting; to insert the head and arms into it while lying down, so as to be covered upon rising (Tur). |
| ב׳ | מלא כל הארץ כבודו | Even in private | One should not say "I am in my innermost chambers, who sees me?", for the glory of Hashem fills the whole earth. |
| ג׳ | ידקדק בחלוקו | Properly | To be careful to wear one's garment the proper way, not turning the inside out. |
| ד׳–ה׳ | נעילה וחליצה | Right / left | Put on the right first, tie the left and return to tie the right (Shabbos 61a); the Rama: our shoes that have no laces → right first. When removing: left first. |
| ו׳ | כיסוי הראש · נקיות | ✦ Humility and cleanliness | Not to walk in komah zekufah nor four amos with the head uncovered; to check one's needs. The Rama: cover one's whole body, do not walk barefoot (Or Zarua); accustom oneself to relieve oneself morning and evening — zerizus u-nekiyus (Hagahos Maimoni, Hil. Deos ch. 5). |
Yamin u-Semol — the precedence of the right and the place of the tefillin
| Source | Register | Contribution | Central idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| שבת ס״א ע״א | Talmud — the sougya | The source | One puts on the right first (chashivus ha-yamin) but ties the left first (mekom tefillin, on the left arm): combining both considerations. |
| השולחן ערוך | Halacha — seifim ד׳–ה׳ | The full order | Right without tying → left tied → return to tie the right; when removing, left first (the reverse of putting on). |
| הרמ״א · תוס׳ שבת ס״א | Conduct — modern shoes | ✦ Le-maaseh | For our shoes that have no laces, where there is no conflict between right and left, one simply puts on the right first. See Level 4 (Daat HaRav). |
Frequently asked questions — Siman ב׳
How does Siman 2 of the Choulhan Aroukh instruct one to get dressed in the morning?
According to the Choulhan Aroukh, Orach Chaim 2:1, one should not put on his garment (chaluk) while sitting; rather one takes his garment and inserts his head and arms into it while still lying down, so that when he rises he is already covered. This is conduct of tzniyus (modesty), so as not to be exposed.
What does "אל יאמר הנני בחדרי חדרים" mean and the principle melo chol ha-aretz kevodo?
The Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 2:2) teaches that one should not say "I am in my innermost chambers, who sees me?", for the Holy One blessed be He fills the whole earth with His glory (melo chol ha-aretz kevodo). This is the direct continuation of the great principle shiviti Hashem lenegdi tamid of siman 1: the constant awareness of the Presence shapes one's conduct even in private.
What is the order of the shoes, right and left, according to Siman 2?
According to the Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 2:4), one puts on the right shoe first without tying it, then the left which he ties, then he returns to tie the right: precedence to the right in the act of putting on, precedence to the left in the tying (out of regard for the place of the tefillin on the left arm). The Rama adds that for our shoes that have no laces, one simply puts on the right first (Tosfos Shabbos 61). When removing them (2:5), one removes the left first.
Must one cover the head and walk with humility according to Siman 2?
The Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 2:6) forbids walking with an upright, haughty posture (komah zekufah) and walking four amos with the head uncovered (giluy harosh). The Rama adds that one should cover his whole body and not walk barefoot (Or Zarua). This flows from melo chol ha-aretz kevodo: humility before the Divine Presence.
What does Siman 2 say about nekiyus (cleanliness) and the zerizus of the morning?
The Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 2:6) requires one to check his needs (nekavav). The Rama adds that one should accustom himself to relieve himself morning and evening, which is a matter of zerizus u-nekiyus (alacrity and cleanliness), per the Hagahos Maimoni (Hilchos Deos ch. 5). This is a preparation of the body for the morning service, connected to the nekiyus required for tefillah (siman 92).