Numerology in the Amidah?

Hi,

"The Ashkenazi sages have said that in the first three blessings [of the Amidah] there are 107 words, because they are based on Psalm 29 which contains 91 words, and Isaiah 29:23 [16 words]."

(Tur Orach Chaim 113)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Add to your amidah

Hi,

"Rav Yehudah son of Rav Shemuel bar Shelat cited Rav: Although they have said that one may make all of his requests in the blessing of 'He who hears prayer', one who wishes to add at the end of each blessing in keeping with its theme may do so.

"Rabbi Chiya bar Ashi cited Rav: Although they have said that one may make all of his requests in the blessing of 'He who hears prayer', one who has an ill person in his home may mention it in the blessing for the sick, and one who needs parnasah may mention it in the blessing of the years.

"Rabbi Chiya bar Ashi cited Rav: Although they have said that one may make all of his requests in the blessing of 'He who hears prayer', one who wishes to recite more after his prayer may even add a prayer like that of Yom Kippur."

(Talmud, Avodah Zarah 8a)

המצפה לישועה,

Mordechai

How the amidah was born

Hi,

"When the Jews were exiled among the nations during the time of evil Nevuchadnezzar, they mixed among the Persians, Greeks and other societies. Their children were born in the lands of the nations, and their languages were confused, the language of each a mixture of many languages. When one would speak, he could not recite all he needed to say in one tongue, but in a mixture of tongues…

"When Ezra and his court observed this, they enacted eighteen structured blessings. The three initial blessings praise  G-d, and the three closing blessings are of thanks. The intermediate blessings contain requests for all needs, as central blessings meant to include all individual and communal needs. This way, the prayers would be structured in the mouths of each person, and each person would learn the prayers, and so the prayers of these poor speakers would be complete, like the prayers of people whose command of the language is pure…"

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Prayer 1:4)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Silent prayer is more acceptable?

Hi,

"One who prays and rises before his Master should not make his voice heard in his prayer. One who makes his voice heard will not have his prayers heard. Why? Because true prayer is not the voice that is heard...

"Therefore, one should not make his prayer audible; rather, he should pray silently, with the voice that is not heard, and that is the prayer that will always be accepted."

(Zohar Bereishit pg. 209b)

May we be inscribed and sealed for a great new year,
Mordechai

The goal of praying silently

Hi,

"Why did they enact silent prayer? So as not to embarrass those who have sinned [and are admitting it in their prayer], just as the Torah did not assign separate locations for those who bring sin-offerings and burnt-offerings [so as not to explicitly identify those who bring sin-offerings for atonement in the Beit haMikdash]."

(Talmud, Sotah 32b)

May we be inscribed and sealed for a great year,
Mordechai

Chanah and our prayers

Hi,

"Why do we recite nine blessings in the Musaf Amidah of Rosh haShanah?

"Rabbi Yitzchak of Carthagena explained: This is parallel to the nine times Chanah mentioned Gd's Name in her prayer (Samuel I 1), for it is noted that Chanah, as well as Sarah and Rachel, were answered on Rosh haShanah."

(Talmud, Berachot 29a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai