(by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times)

A visitor to Eretz Yisroel visited a Gadol and was told that he should daven vasikin in America as well. When he responded that his shul did not have one, he was told: So nu, start one. But should a shul with an on-going weekday minyan, establish a weekday Vasikin Minyan as well? Can he do so, if until now, the Rav did not? The following article discusses the Pros and Cons.

The Pros:
1] There is a concept called Zrizim makdimim l’Mitzvos – and it would give more people opportunities to fulfill this.
2] There is a concept called Mitzvah min HaMuvchar – and it would give more people opportunities to fulfill this.
3] The Gemorah (Brachos 9b) tells us that whomsoever davens vasikin – he will not come to be harmed that day.
4] The Gemorah further tells (ibid) us that one who does so is assured that he has a place in the world to come.
5] The Gemorah in Avodah Zarah (4a) indicates that with the rising of the sun there is a period of Divine anger, so to speak. Davening at this time, yira’ucha im hashemesh minimizes this Divine anger (see Shemen Rosh of Vienner Rav, Parshas Noach). See also Yevamos 64a, where Tzaddikim accomplish this (see also Ramban in intro to Milchemes that Vasikin people are Tzaddikim). A Vasikin minyan will allow more people to minimize this anger.
6] According to the way the Mekubalim understand the Arizal’s Sefer HaKavanos (old edition page 50) there is no greater Maaleh- (ideal) than davening Vasikin.
7] The Ramban in his introduction to the Milchamos of Meseches Brachos states that a Tzaddik is one who davens vasikin.
8] The Mishna Brurah in his Biur Halacha (34:2 Yaniach) writes that if someone could have performed a Mitzvah in an ideal fashion and didn’t is somewhat in violation of Bal Sigra – taking away from the Torah.
9] The Gemorah in Shabbos (63a) states that whomsoever fulfills a Mitzvah k’ma’marah (in its ideal way) even if Hashem had enacted a decree it will be torn up.
10] It has remarkable powers of Tefilah as seen from the Maharsha’s understanding of Chizkiyahu HaMelech (Brachos 10b). Chizkiyahu’s prayer was only answered (See Malachim II 20:5) because he davened Vasikin (according to the Maharsha cited in Binyan Av p. 368), even though his righteousness was such that the Gemorah in Sanhedrin (94b) tells us that every child was fully fluent in the intricate details of Tumah and Tahara.
The Cons:
1] It could jeopardize the general minyan, and certainly would weaken it. This would lessen the B’rov am hadras melech – the greater the people is the greater glory to the King. The weekday minyan was first.
2] It could possibly cause a scheduling and parking nightmare.
3] It could possibly adversely affect the Daf Yomi and or other Shiurim.
4] It could cause people to establish a “holier-than-thou” attitude.
5] It might be a bit of a stumbling block to those that have a tendency toward OCD behavior.
6] Many fathers will not be davening with their children on Shabbos
7] As a result of #6, few friends of the Bar Mitzvah boy will be attending his Bar Mitzvah.

In our particular situation, one should not do so if the Rav is not behind it. He is aware more than others of the particular spiritual needs of his congregants. The Gadol, of course, only meant that it should be encouraged if the Rav feels it is appropriate.

The author can be reached at [email protected]