[Avodah] Shmoneh esrei - 18/19

[rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com]

> If one looks at the evidence there is no need for teirutzim. 
> What is wrong with there having been tov b'rakhot instead of 
> chai b'rakhot? If there is something very wrong with having 
> had 17, should we, perhaps, combine two brakhot to return 
> the present 19 back to the holy 18?
> David

Perhaps nothing wrong but IIRC the gmara in brachos links 18 with Psalm
29 having 18 hazkoros. And FWIW so does Baruch Hashem l'olam

The way it was taught to me is that the original 18 went 2 ways:
Up to 19 or maintaining 18 by contraction

Saying. In EY they contracted 2 brachos to preserve 18 supports the idea
that tefillah "yud cheis" is a long-standing term.

The kasha is really more on minhag bavel that maintained the terminology
of shmoneh esrai w/o really having 18
(Lich'ora) since before rabban gamliel. And lich'ora baruch Hashem
should have been 19.

While David may be correct historically I prefer the logic of the way I
was taught because it all fits together. 17 doesn't seem to fit as well.

Simchas Shushan Purim
RRW
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