The Historical Allusions of the Nineteen Blessings of the Amida

The Aruch Ha’shulhan (Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein of Nevarduk, 1829-1908), in Orah Haim (112), presents a remarkable new insight into the nineteen blessings that comprise the weekday Amida prayer. He shows, citing earlier sources, that these blessings do not merely express our wishes before G-d, but also hearken back to our nation’s ancient history. Each blessing, he writes, corresponds to a significant event in the history of Am Yisrael when the angels made a proclamation before G-d:

1) When Abraham Abinu was miraculously rescued from the furnace in Ur Kasdim, the angels proclaimed, "Magen Abraham" ("the protector of Abraham"), the phrase which concludes the first Beracha of the Amida.

2) When Yishak was nearly slaughtered as a sacrifice and his life was then spared, the angels exclaimed, "Mehayeh Ha’metim" ("who revives the dead").

3) When Yaakob Abinu left his father’s home and stopped in Bet-El, where he sanctified G-d’s Name, the angels proclaimed, "Ha’Kel Ha’kadosh" ("the sacred G-d").

4) When Yosef was in the Egyptian dungeon, and the angel Gabriel taught him the seventy languages in preparation for his appointment as the vizier of Egypt, the angels proclaimed, "Ata Honen Le’adam Da’at" (that G-d grants people wisdom).
5) When Reuben repented following his sin with Bilha, the angels proclaimed, "Ha’roseh Bi’tshuva" ("who desires repentance").

6) When Yehuda publicly confessed that he had impregnated Tamar, the angels exclaimed, "Hanun Ha’marbeh Li’sloah" ("the gracious One, who forgives abundantly").

7) When G-d sent Moshe to announce to Beneh Yisrael in Egypt that they would soon be redeemed, the angels exclaimed, "Go’el Yisrael" ("Redeemer of Israel").

8) When the angel Raphael cured Abraham Abinu following his circumcision, the angels sang, "Rofeh Holeh Amo Yisrael" ("Healer of the ill among His nation, Israel").

9) When Yishak sowed his fields in Gerar, and the ground yielded 100 times the usual amount, the angels exclaimed, "Mebarech Ha’shanim" (referring to G-d’s granting agricultural prosperity).

10) When Yaakob was reunited with Yosef in Egypt, the angels exclaimed, "Mekabetz Nidheh Amo Yisrael" ("who gathers the exiles of His nation, Israel").

11) When Moshe Rabbenu descended from Mount Sinai and brought the Torah, G-d’s laws, to the people, the angels declared, "Melech Oheb Sedaka U’mishpat" ("the King who loves justice and law").

12) When the Egyptians drowned in the sea, the angels exclaimed, "Shober Oyebim U’machni’a Zedim" (referring to the punishing of the wicked).

13) When G-d fulfilled His promise to Yaakob that his beloved son, Yosef, would be by his bedside during his final moments of life, the angels sang, "Mishan U’mibtah La’sadikim" (referring to G-d’s fulfilling His promises of reward to the righteous).

14) When King Shlomo built the Bet Ha’mikdash, the angels exclaimed, "Boneh Yerushalayim" ("Builder of Jerusalem").

15) After Beneh Yisrael crossed the sea and were saved from the Egyptians, the angels pronounced, "Masmiah Keren Yeshua" (referring to G-d’s bringing salvation).

16) When G-d answered Beneh Yisrael’s prayers in Egypt and brought them to freedom, the angels exclaimed, "Shome’a Tefila" ("who listens to prayer").

17) When the Shechina (divine presence) rested in the Mishkan, the angels sang, "Ha’mahazir Shechinato Le’siyon" ("who returns His Shechina to Zion").

18) When King Shlomo brought the Aron into the newly-constructed Bet Ha’mikdash and expressed thanksgiving to G-d, the angels said, "Ha’tob Shimcha U’lcha Na’eh Le’hodot" ("Your Name is good, and to You it is fitting to thank").

19) When Beneh Yisrael entered the Land of Israel, and realized the fulfillment of the promise, "I shall grant peace in the land" (Vayikra 26:6), the angels sang, "Ha’mebarech Et Amo Yisrael Ba’shalom" ("who blesses His nation, Israel, with peace").

Amazingly, three times each weekday, as we recite the Amida, we take a journey through Jewish history, reflecting upon the significant moments in our nation’s past, and drawing faith and inspiration from the great miracles and kindnesses which Hashem performed for our ancestors.