Praying for Redemption

Some people scoff at prayers for the Geula - the full redemption of our people. Yet, praying for redemption is a major halachic obligation; our prayers revolve around the Geula…

3 min

Rabbi Lazer Brody

Posted on 27.06.23

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Last week, during one of my monthly talks at one of the local seminaries, a few people asked to what degree Judaism requires us to pray for Mashiach and redemption. I answered that at least 50% of our prayers are requests for the future redemption, Mashiach, etc. “That’s impossible!”, people called out from around the auditorium. I then tossed the audience a question, and asked that they shout back quick answers:

“Of our daily Shmona Esrei (Hebrew for 18) prayer, which is actually a compendium of 19 blessings, how many are requests for the Geula, or future redemption?” Voices resounded like gunshots: “Four!” “One!” “Three!” “Two!” Four was the highest bidder. I then opened up a prayer book, and explained the blessings one by one, with the proper interpretation and intent of each one. Here are the results in table form – they’re quite an eye-opener:

#

Blessing

Principal intent

Geula

Present

1
Magen Avraham
Guardian of Abraham, who shall bring the “Goel” (Moshiach) to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s offspring
*
2
Mechaye Mesim
Hashem the King who shall revive the dead
*
3
Kel Hakadosh
Blessing our holy G-d
*
4
Chonen HaDaas
Request for wisdom
*
5
Harotze B’Tshuva
Help us return to You Hashem and to Your Torah
*
6
Hamarbeh Lisloach
Forgive us for our sins
*
7
Goel Yisroel
Redeem us quickly!
*
8
Rofeh Cholei Amo Yisroel
Heal the sick
*
9
Mevorech Hashanim
Bless this year’s crops, the land, and give us rain
*
10
Mekabetz nidchei amo Yisroel
Gather the exiles from the 4 corners of the earth
*
11
Ohev tzedakka u’mishpat
Send us our judges (the Sanhedrin) as of old, and may we have true justice
*
12
Shover oivim umachnia zaydim
Destroy the forces of evil soon and in our time
*
13
Mishon umivtach latzaddikim
Reward those who trust in You, Hashem
*
14
Boneh Yerushalayim
Rebuild Jerusalem (the Temple) and dwell among us, Hashem
*
15
Matzmiach Keren Yeshua
Request for Moshiach (scion of David) and salvation
*
16
Shomea tefilla
Hear and accept our prayers
*
17
Machzir Shchinaso leTzion
Return Your Divine Presence to
Zion
*
18
Noeh Lehodos
May all of mankind thank and praise Your magnificent name
*
19
Mevorech es amo b’shalom
Bless your people of Israel with peace
*

Total  

10

9

As you can see, an amazing 10 out of 19 blessings are requests for the future redemption, while only 9 out of 19, less than half, are requests for the present. By the way, the local Rosh Yeshiva at the institution where I lecture also lists blessing #19 in the Geula category.
Halacha mentions more than a dozen times the requirement of praying for the Geula (the Ga’al Yisroel blessing) right before saying the Shmona Esrei prayer in the Shacharit (morning) service, with not a single syllable intermission between them!  
The famous “Taz”, of blessed and saintly memory, one of the leading 17th Century CE Halachic commentators Rabbi David Halevi, emphasizes in his elaboration of the Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Oruch, Orach Chaim 114), that we complete the Shmona Esrei prayer by saying (Psalms 19:16), “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be gratifying to you Hashem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” By referring to Hashem as our Redeemer, this is yet one more request for the full redemption of our people.
All of the above comes together in an amazing concept: Halacha requires us to pray for the Geula right before saying the Shmona Esrei prayer, then to concentrate on the Geula during more than half of our Shmona Esrei prayer, and then to pray for the Geula again after the Shmona Esrei prayer!
We can therefore practically summarize that the Geula is probably our most important request to Hashem, and that we use every single prayer opportunity to ask for Mashiach and Redemption. We also see that more than half of our daily prayers are requests for the Geula. On sabbath and holidays, some prayers – such as the Mussaf – are nearly exclusive requests for salvation, Mashiach, and the rebuilding of the Temple. So, those who thought that only 1, 2, or 3 blessings speak about the Geula haven’t understood much of what their lips have been mumbling.
We can only pray from the heart after we fully understand and realize what we’re saying. That’s why one of the first questions that the Heavenly Court asks a person (see Talmud, tractate Shabbat 31a), “Did you eagerly await the Redemption?” Those who pray with intent will be able to answer, “Yes!”, and to assume their rightful place in the sublime and indescribably blissful World to Come, amen.

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