Shemoneh Esrei: Seventeenth Blessing: Part 2
Thus said the Lord
Throughout our long and bitter exile, the Beit Haknesset, the synagogue, has stood for us as a pillar of refuge in the absence of the holy Temple. Yet, although the Divine presence resides in the synagogues around the world, this fact cannot be seen with our eyes. In Temple times, however, the Divine presence was revealed, and there were constant, open miracles, which strengthened one’s faith in
Nowadays, in these dark times when
The above idea can be seen in the order of the blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei. After we conclude the section of requests, we proclaim in the blessing of Avoda, the Temple service, “Return the service of the Temple to the Holy of Holies.” This expresses our great desire to see an end to the exile and a return to the loyal service of
We can also learn from the order of the blessings what the true result of prayer should be. Drawing close to
Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive guide, rather a brief summary to raise awareness of the issues. In any real case one should ask a competent Halachic authority.
L'iluy Nishmas the Rosh HaYeshiva - Rav Chonoh Menachem Mendel ben R' Yechezkel Shraga, Rav Yaakov Yeshaya ben R' Boruch Yehuda.