How long should it take to say Pesukei D’zimrah?

Care should be taken to say Pesukei D’zimrah slowly, as deliberately as one would count money, so that words should not be omitted, mispronounced, or slurred. Some poskim say that it should take half an hour to say Pesukei D’zimrah. Although doing so is not required, it is customary to appoint a chazan to lead davening from the beginning. One should keep his hands empty during Pesukei D’zimrah. There are opinions which allow a person to hold an item if he would not be disturbed if it would fall from his hand. All agree that holding a siddur is permitted.

סעיף ח וס"ק כ; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 23

When is Mizmor L’sodah omitted?

The passage of Mizmor L’sodah was incorporated into Pesukei D’zimrah in place of the Korbon Todah --the korbon of thanksgiving which was brought in the times of the Beis Hamikdosh. Therefore, Mizmor L’sodah is not said on days when there would not have been a Korbon Todah. This includes Shabbos, Yom Tov, Erev Pesach (since there is not enough time to eat the chometz breads that were brought along with the korbon) and Erev Yom Kippur (when there was not enough time to eat before the fast).

סעיף ט וס"ק כא-כב

Why is Ashrei so important?

A focal point of Pesukei D’zimrah is the perek of Tehilah L’David (known as Ashrei). Its primacy is the due to the pasuk of Poseach Es Yadecha, which attests that Hashem oversees and supports His creation. One who says this perek three times a day with the proper intent is guaranteed a portion in Olam Habah. If one did not have kavanah when saying this pasuk, he must repeat it and continue through the end of the perek.

סעיף ז וס"ק טו ו־טז; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 18

• One who is in the middle of Pesukei D’zimrah should not be called up for an aliyah unless he is the only Kohein or Levi in the Shul.

• One may answer Amen to a brocha even if he is in the middle of a pasuk, as long as he is not interrupting a concept.

• In earlier times, it was customary to greet and return a greeting in the middle of davening. Chazal, therefore, were lenient in allowing people to greet others and respond to greetings in certain circumstances.

• Which parts of davening can a person omit in order to daven with the tzibur?

• Which parts of Pesukei D’zimrah have precedence?

• Should a woman skip Pesukei D’zimrah in order to daven with the tzibur?