Parshas Vayeira: The Origin of Prayer

"Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the L-rd" -Genesis 19:27

Abraham established the morning service of Shacharis, as the verse states "Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the L-rd." The words "Where he had stood" refers to prayer. Isaac established the afternoon service of Mincha, and Jacob established the evening service of Maariv." Talmud Berachos 26b

The age-old practice of prayer dates back to Adam's prayer for vegetation in the Garden of Eden. Our daily prayers date back to our Forefathers, with each forefather claiming one service. Why did Abraham only establish the morning service? Why didn't the paradigmatic faithful servant of G-d blaze the path for the afternoon and evening service as well?

In an eye-opening discourse, Rabbi Menachem Tzvi Tuksin clarifies the concept of prayer: Each one of our Forefathers was compelled to establish the specific prayer attributed to them. Every action of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were embedded into the fabric of the Jewish People. Abraham's actions represented the time period spanning from our descent to Egypt and the Exodus until the destruction of the first Temple. Isaac's actions represented the time period of the second Temple until its destruction. And Jacob's actions represented the time period beginning with the last exile following the destruction of the second Temple until the final redemption.

What is the significance of these time periods in our history? In the course of Jewish History, G-d's presence began with the splitting of the sea, glorious revelations amidst sound and light shows, and open miracles occurring on a daily basis in the first Temple. In the second Temple, those open miracles tapered down to a much more subtle presence of G-d. Finally with the destruction of the second Temple and our current exile, G-d has hidden His open manifestation in this world. Seldom is the open act of Divine Presence nowadays.

Abraham represented the brightest aspect of our timeline. He thereby instituted the morning service which is recited from the time that the sun is rising until its complete illumination several hours later. Isaac’s influence was felt while the sun was still shining, but it had already begun to wane. The miracles weren’t as open. He therefore instituted the afternoon service which is recited while the light slowly diminishes. Jacob gave us the tools needed for the exile. He therefore established the evening service which can be recited from nightfall and onwards. Its time is only up when the light begins to reappear on the horizon. Jacobs influence is felt until the coming of the messiah. Abraham was surely always praying. The establishment of prayer however, was a process that required certain energies to be transmitted along with the prayer. Those energies were impacted by each particular Forefather.

The notion that our Forefathers and Foremothers determined the course for all subsequent generations came to an apex with the binding of Isaac. That was the final challenge that Abraham faced. With his successful passage of that ordeal, we were imbued with Abraham’s ability of selflessness and sacrifice for G-d. In the merit of the binding of Isaac, we merited becoming the nation that received the Torah. As a result, we will also merit to have Elijah the Prophet lead us to the messianic era, and eventually for the Final Days to arrive.

We do not stand on our own two feet. We are standing atop the shoulders of giants. Our merit of existence is due to the very strong shoulders that are carrying us. Those shoulders endured sacrifice all the way back to Abraham to ensure our survival and our future thriving. Those shoulders went through the Red Sea, stood at Mount Sinai, built the Temple, witnessed its destruction, and went into exile again. Those shoulders celebrated our nation’s high points, and remained faithful during the hardships. Those shoulders were subjected to the crusades, the inquisition, pogroms, and the Holocaust. Yet we are shockingly still here to tell the story. We stand on those shoulders.

May we all merit to live the life of Torah and mitzvahs that so many of those shoulders that we stand on sacrificed for. Amen.