Shir Hamaalos and kaddish before arvis bizmano

On Motzoei Shabbos one doesn't say Shir Hamaalos hiney borchu..., and Ledovid Boruch is said. Only one or two communities in Hungary said a Kaddish after Ledovid Boruch.

The reason for this is as follows - saying Shir Hamaalos was a minhag restored in the time of the Ari z"l. This was done with Kaddish, since that was how the Ari z"l set the minhag. The Kaddish is said as the beginning of the Tefilloh, like Shacharis has Kaddish before Birkos Krias Shma, so when the Mincho and Maariv are together there is no need for this Kaddish since there is Kaddish Tiskabal after mincha, but when Maariv is Bizmano there is no Kaddish, therefore Shir Hamaalos and Kaddish is said. Ledovid Boruch is an old minhag which was never stopped, and since there was never a Kaddish according to that minhag it was not added later (when Maariv of weekdays got a Kaddish) too.

Michael FRBSH

1) In the time of the Ge'onim there was a minhog to say a perek of Tehillim before ma'ariv. The Ari z"l re-instituted the minhog to say a perek (Shir Hamaalos).

2) Shir Hamaalos came into minhag Ashkenaz since it was first said by a small group, Chevras Maariv Bizmano (those who davened Maariv after Mincho anyway had no need for this, as explained above). Later when many people began davening Maariv Bizmano, they davened like the initial group, and that is how it became more common.

Mizmor Shir Chanukas Habayis, was not accepted in Ashkenaz, (besides the fact that the the historical dynamics mentioned above did not apply to it), because halachically there is a problem with saying it according to Minhag Ashkenaz, which holds that pesukei zimroh are said only after Boruch She'omar, since all Brochos are done "Over La'asiyoson" - before the Mitzvoh that the Brocho is applying too.

FRBSH

As a side point - the Ari z"l never instituted Mizmor Shir as a separate mizmor before Boruch Sheomar, but rather as a mizmor to be said after Hodu, which by the Sepharadic minhog is before Boruch She'omar. Some say that according to Minhag Ashkenaz Mizmor Lesoudoh, which is said after Hodu, comes in place of Mizmor Shir according to the Sepharadim.

Michael

The Ari Z'l brings the Pesukim we say. There are other Kabbalistic Siddurs that bring other Pesukim, and they would be the origin for Minhag Sepharad.

Michael FRBSH

Steven wrote: 1. I thought when Ma'ariv is said right after mincho that no O'leinu is said? Is that correct or is that only Friday night where it is immediately followed by kabbolas Shabbos?? I assume if there is something between mincho and Ma'aariv (like lighting the menorah on Chanukoh ) then O'leinu is required to complete Mincho?

Oleinu is said only when one leaves the shul after Mincho. Therefore if Mincho and Maariv are together (even if there is the Menorah in between or Kabbolas Shabbos etc.) no Oleinu is said. See more at this post .

Steven wrote: 2. It was very interesting to note that they davened Mincho after shekiya. My father and grandfather were very makpid that once shekiya comes you have missed the zeman of mincho and cannot say it.

This is an interesting issue, and is discussed at length at this post .

Michael