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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 19:16:34 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: VIHI NOAN on Saturday Night=MAGAN AVOTH on Friday Night

Akiva Miller (v29n01) asks why Magen Avoth is only said on Friday night.
Indeed, if the purpose of saying it is to make sure that latecomers don't
go home by themselves why not have a similar procedure on Saturday night
for the latecomers.

Two points may be made:
---On weekdays people didn't usually come to shule..(So those who did come
came on time--See Kesef Mishnah)

---I would appear to me that we say VIHI NOAM and ATAH KADOSH on
Saturday night for the same reason that we say Magen Avoth on Friday night
I infer this from the fact that the Rambam (prayer 9:10-14) combines
in the same set of paragraphs both (a) the requirement to say Magen Avoth
on Friday night as well as (b) the requirement to say "the order of the
day"(=Vihi Noam and Attach Kadosh) on Saturday night.

So I assume the reason for Magen Avoth extends to VIHI NOAM.

In passing I wonder if people have heard other reasons why VIHI NOAM is
said Saturday night.

Russell Jay Hendel; Ph.d; ASA; rjhendel@juno.com;http://www.shamas.org/rashi