עברית
Prayer and Blessings
What is the significance of praying at sunrise?
Question
Why is there an advantage to praying at sunrise over praying in a minyan at 7:30, aside from the idea of "according to the pain is the reward"? There is a point that is not very clear: Hashem has designated a time for prayer, and it seems that those who pray earlier are greater. The one who prays at sunrise fulfills the will of Hashem just as the one who prays at 7:30 does. [I am familiar with the gemara in Berakhot 9b which discusses the merits of the early ones (v'tikin), but the question I asked does not sit well with me.]
Answer
Greetings
The time of sunrise is a time of great favor in Heaven, and the prayer of one who prays at sunrise is accepted because this time of favor is very significant.
There is also a special merit in praying with a congregation; when the community prays, there is a great opportunity for favor in Heaven, and communal prayers are always heard.
The poskim disagree about which is preferable: the time of favor for praying at sunrise or for praying with a congregation. One who can pray in a minyan at sunrise is granted both merits together, and there is no greater time of favor than this.
Blessings,
Benjamin Shmueli
