ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע… ויפגע במקום… (ויצא כח:י-יא)

Rashi says that the word “ויפגע” means tefilah – to daven. From this passuk, we learn that Yaakov Avinu composed the Maariv prayers when he arrived at this place.

When the Frierdiga Rav zt”l visited the town of Hivniv (Uhniv, Ukraine, situated a mere 13 miles from Belz), the naysayers told their Rav that the Frierdige Rav davens Mincha at a late hour.  When the Frierdige Rav visited the Rav of Hivniv, the Frierdige Rav asked him: “Could the Rav please show me in the Torah when the zman – time – is to daven Mincha and Maariv?”

The Hivniv Rav understood that the Frierdige Rav was not waiting for an answer and remained silent. The Frierdige Rav explained that when Yitzchak composed the Mincha prayers, it says (Bereshis 24:63): “ויצא יצחק לשוח בשדה” and by Yaakov it says “ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע”.  Why does the Torah use the word “ויצא” – and he went out instead of “וילך” – and he walked?

The word “ויצא” can also mean to “empty out”. The Torah tells us that Yitzchak and Yaakov went to daven Mincha and Maariv when the day and night “emptied out.” 

The Frierdige Rav concluded: “There are people that have the power to sense when the day leaves and night comes in, but one who does should not delay as he can easily miss the time of Davening.”