Additions to Davening

By Donny Zeller-

The Geonim determined that certain phrases should be added in the Amidah prayer. In the bracha of Avos, the phrase of Zachrenu L’Chaim… is added in the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In the second blessing, the phrase Mi Chamocha… is added. In the last three blessings of the Amidah prayer, the phrase Uchitov L’Chayim Tovim…. And the phrase B’Sefer Chayim Bracha V’Shalom are inserted.

These additions seem to contradict a statement in the Gemara by Rav Yehuda that a person should not make personal requests in the first three blessings, or the last three blessings of the Amidah. Rather, a person may only make personal requests during the middle blessings. The first three blessings are praises to Hashem. The last three blessings are blessings of gratitude and thanks. Therefore, how can these supplications be placed in the first three blessings and in the last three blessings? 

Rabbi Hai Gaon’s answer is that Rav Yehuda’s statement of not mentioning personal needs in the first three or last three blessings only applies to individual requests. However, the public needs may be addressed. With these requests, we are asking for life as a public need. For instance, in the last three blessings of the Amida, we ask for the return of the Temple sacrifices and for peace. 

However, this only applies for the additions in the last three blessings where the requests for many is already incorporated into the Amidah. How can we make additions in the first three blessings, where we do not find any mentioning of requests? Rishonim explain that the requests in the first three blessings can be explained as a praise to Hashem. The first three blessings are praises to Hashem. Requesting life means that we are in need of something from Hashem. The fact that we need Hashem is a praise to Hashem. This falls under the category of what the first three blessings are about: a praise to Hashem. 

May Hashem grant us all a happy, healthy, and successful year!