Aggadot from Hamivtar Rabbi Yitzchak Blau If you have comments or questions please feel free to e-mail Rabbi Blau at: nyz@netvision.net.il

The Three Daily Prayers 

R. Helbo said in the name of R. Huna: “A person should always be careful about the afternoon prayer as Eliyahu was only answered in the afternoon prayer as it says ‘ And it was at the time of the afternoon sacrifice and Eliyahu the prophet came forward ..and said answer me God, answer me’ (Melakhim I 18: 36-37). Answer me that fire should come down from heaven and answer me that they will not claim that it is the work of sorcery.” R. Yohanan said: “This also applies to the evening prayer as it says ‘Let my prayer be like an incense before You, and the lifting of my hands like the evening offering’ (Tehillim 141: 2).” R. Nahman bar Yitzhak said: “ Also the morning prayer as it says ‘God, hear my voice in the morning; in the morning, I will direct my prayer to You and look forward.’ (Tehillim 5:3)” (Berakhot 6b) 

At first glance, this gemara might remind us of the parents who want their children to eat three meals a day. At each mealtime, they dutifully instruct their children that the meal at hand represents the crucial meal of the day. Is the gemara truly resorting to the same strategy to motivate the readers to take each of the three daily tefilot seriously? 

Rav Kook understands this gemara differently employing the imagery of the human body to convey his understanding. Sometimes, the body has a pair of a given organ as an insurance policy. R. Kook does not mention specific organs but the 
kidneys can serve as a good example. The second kidney does not do anything 
different than the first kidney but it provides a backup if the first has difficulty. Wit regard to other organs, the second one does not merely provide a backup but rather has an independent function and value that can not be accomplished by the first one alone. 

Which model corresponds to our repeated daily prayers? If we adopt the backup model, we might argue that maintaining proper intent while praying is quite difficult and the Rabbis set up multiple prayer opportunities each day in the hope that at least one would succeed. R. Kook contends that the entire point of our gemara in Berakhot is to argue for the other model. Each of the three daily prayers plays a unique role that cannot be adequately replaced by the other two. 

Minha reminds us each afternoon to step back from our mundane activities and think about Godliness. The lawyer who takes a break from his or her busy work to 
pray understands this point well. The traveler making sure to stop for minha also appreciates this idea. Maariv, in our free time during the evening, reminds us to direct the free play of our minds towards the holy and not to the ignoble. R. Kook adds that the verse this gemara cites about the evening prayer compares it to incense offerings about which the gemara (Zevahim 88b) says atone for tale bearing in private. The comparison helps us focus on what people make of their evening leisure time when out of the public eye. Finally, the morning prayer attempts to spiritually jump start the day and remind us to direct our efforts that day in a religiously appropriate fashion. 

The above does not remove the difficulties inherent in trying to pray well but it can motivate us to try harder when we understand that each tefilah has a special role to play in shaping the contours of the religious day. 

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