We draw inspiration from the torchbearers of our legacy
The very first brachah of Shemoneh Esreh spotlights our Avos Hakedoshim: Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. Why are they worthy of this distinction, specifically within the context of Shemoneh Esreh?
Our Avos are the torchbearers of Yiddishkeit; their behavior set the standard for all future descendants. Rav Shlomo Wolbe notes another important but often overlooked contribution they made: Everything we know about Hashem is gleaned from the Avos. Their conduct, interactions, and deeds reveal knowledge of Hashem to us. No mortal since has divulged more than they. When we begin the Shemoneh Esreh, our intimate conversation with Hashem, we invoke the Avos who taught us all we know of Him.
The Birchas Avos ends with “magen Avraham,” distinguishing Avraham Avinu from Yitzchak and Yaakov. Why is he worthy of being singled out?
Most of us acknowledge chesed and emunah as Avraham Avinu’s spiritual legacy. But rather than behaving as two isolated traits, Avraham’s chesed is the middah that facilitated his dissemination of emunah.
Create a free account to keep reading.
