[Avodah] Shmoneh esrei - 18/19

[D&E-H Bannett]

Re:  <<I once heard (I know, this is usually not a good 
introduction to a
reliable source) that Kallir purposely omitted a q'rova for 
the bracha
of "Et tzemach David" on Purim.

That's what the commentary in the Artscroll siddur states>>

Another teirutz to explain the mystery to those who seem to 
think that the number 18 for the 'Amida was commanded by H' 
and given to Moshe be-Sinai.

I was not very surprised that Artscroll backs such 
teirutzim. What is the halakhic or other justification for 
ignoring the evidence of the Yerushalmi, the nusach of the 
combined b'rakha in the nusach E"Y found in the geniza and 
the lack of a krova for the extra b'rakha.

Another teirutz as yet not mentioned on list is that the E"Y 
nusach was put in the geniza because it was a non-halakhic 
chiddush.  If so, shouldn't the Yerushalmi also be put in 
geniza to prevent non-frum MO ideas from spreading. Who 
volunteers to compose another krova?

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?


bivrakha,

David