After an elevated prayer, we ask Him to help elevate our speech
Our journey through the brachos of Shemoneh Esreh culminates with the tefillah of Elokai Netzor. In contrast to the sections that preceded it, which were composed by the Anshei Knesses Hagedolah, Elokai Netzor is an addition authored by the Amoraim.
At first glance, it seems odd to end the holy tefillah of Shemoneh Esreh with an appeal for elevated speech. Why single out the specific mitzvah of shemiras halashon above all others?
Rav Chaim Friedlander explains that tefillah is an exercise in channeling our power of speech toward the exalted objectives of praising Hashem and requesting our needs from Him. Therefore, we ask Hashem that after using our mouth for the sacred, we refrain from engaging it in the forbidden, as this undermines its true function and contravenes the gift of speech.
The beginning of Shemoneh Esreh invokes the power of speech with our request, “Hashem sefasei tiftach u’fi yagid tehilasecha.” Now, in concluding our tefillah, we once again reference the organs of speech: “Netzor l’shoni mei’ra, usefasai meidaber mirmah.”
Create a free account to keep reading.
