use oncomplete attribute instead of onclick

i think, then you will have a problem!
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but maybe, there is a solution (for sure an ugly, but i do not have another idea):

- push-component in jsp:

<a4j:push id="comp_push" interval="1000" eventProducer="#{theBean.addListener}"
 reRender="comp_push" data="#{theBean.openModalPanel}"
 oncomplete="if(data == true) RichfacesshowModalPanel('themodalpanel');" />

PushEventListener listener;

public void addListener(EventListener listener)
{
 synchronized (listener)
 {
 if (this.listener != listener)
 this.listener = (PushEventListener) listener;
 }
}

this.openModalPanel = true;
listener.onEvent(new EventObject(this));

public boolean isOpenModalPanel()
{
 if(openModalPanel == true)
 {
 openModalPanel = false;
 return true;
 }

 return openModalPanel;
}

ok.. there is simple and seems good for you solution..

Just bind showWhenRendered attribute of modalPanel to some property and set it with true value if modal should be shown after request.

B.t.w. it's very interesting why you could use rich components and couldn't use a4j :) All this components uses the same basic framework features.