A Short Tribute

The choice time to fulfill the commandment of reciting the Eighteen Benedictions is at the break of dawn, precisely; not before and not after. It is known that righteous people of old would complete the recitation at the crack of dawn. This is called Tefillat Vatiqim. The ancient custom at the Chesed El congregation on Mount Zion is to recite the Eighteen at the crack of dawn, according to the orderly calculations made by the great Rabbi Yehosef Schwartz, may he rest in heaven. And, seeing as our location is at a great height, we go up to the roof to see the sun begin to rise from behind the mountain, where the Temple Mount is situated, and when the moment arrives, we recite, "Who redeems Israel" and begin the Eighteen. This is how we always pray.