1)

(a)Shimon ha'Pekuli - (so-called because he sold cotton) arranged the text of the eighteen B'rachos of the Amidah in front of Raban Gamliel in Yavneh.

(b)When Raban Gamliel asked whether there was anyone present who was able to establish a B'rachah against the Tzedokim (who were prominent at that time) - Shmuel ha'Katan responded.

(c)The following year when Shmuel ha'Katan himself went to the Amud to Daven - he spent a few hours trying to recall the text of the B'rachah.

2)

(a)What did Rav Yehudah Amar Rav ruled that if a Chazan errs over ...

1. ... any of the other B'rachos of the Amidah - one does not remove him from the Amud, but if he errs in ...

2. ... Birchas ha'Minim - one does ...

(b)... because one suspects that he is a Miyn (an infidel).

(c)They did not remove Shmuel ha'Katan however - since he composed it.

(d)When someone asked why they did not suspect that he had retracted, Abaye answered - that 'Someone who has done something good is above suspicion of then retracting and doing bad'.

3)

(a)We answer the Kashya from the Pasuk in Yechezkel "u've'Shuv Tzadik mi'Tzidkaso ve'Asah Avel", which suggests that a Tzadik can become a Rasha - by confining that to someone who was a Rasha to begin with (which Shmuel ha'Katan was not).

(b)Citing the Mishnah 'Al Ta'amin be'Atzm'cha ad Yom Moscha', we query this answer from Yochanan Kohen Gadol - who was Kohen Gadol for eighty years before becoming a Tzedoki.

(c)The significance of Abaye's answer 'Hu Yanai, Hu Yochanan' is - that Yanai ha'Melech was a Rasha, which means that Yochanan Kohen Gadol was a Rasha who became a Tzadik and who later reverted to his old ways.

4)

(a)Rava maintains that Yochanan was not alias Yanai ha'Melech. And he attributes the fact that they did not depose Shmuel ha'Katan as Chazan when he got stuck in the middle of Birchas ha'Minim - to the fact that he began the B'rachah and only got stuck in the middle (in which case he was clearly not a Miyn),

(b)He bases this ruling on a statement of Rav Yehudah Amar Rav (or Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi), who states - that one only deposes someone who errs in Birchas ha'Minim if he stumbles over the beginning of the B'rachah, but not if he errs in the middle.

5)

(a)The Gemara now discusses the sources of the number of B'rachos in the various Amidos. Rebbi Chalafta ben Shaul attributes the seven B'rachos in the Shabbos Amidah to the seen 'Kolos' - mentioned in Tehilim with regard to water ("Kol Hash-m al ha'Mayim").

(b)And Rebbi Yitzchak from Carthage attributes the nine B'rachos of the Rosh ha'Shanah (Musaf) Amidah - to the nine times the Name of Hash-m appears in Chanah's Tefilah (in Seifer Shoftim).

(c)To connect Chanah to Rosh ha'Shanah - Mar points out that Chanah's (as well as that of Sarah and Rachel) to have children, was answered on Rosh ha'Shanah.

6)

(a)We attribute the twenty-four B'rachos that one says on a Ta'anis to the twenty-four expressions of Renanah that Shlomoh ha'Melech recited - when he brought the Aron into the Kodesh Kodshim.

(b)The problem with that is - why we then recite them only on a Ta'anis, and not every day?

(c)We resolve it - by pointing out that Shlomoh recited them on a day that required mercy, so we do the same.

(d)The special mercy required on that day was - due to the fact that initially, the gates locked and refused to open to allow the Aron in (as is explained in Mo'ed Katan).

7)

(a)Rebbi Yehoshua in our Mishnah permits Davening an abridged version of the Amidah ('Me'ein Shemonah-Esrei'). According to Rav, that abridged version is know as 'Havineinu' - comprising one (middle) B'rachah ...

(b)... that in turn, comprises snatches of all the middle B'rachos from 'Atah Chonein' until 'Shome'a Tefilah' ...

(c)... and it ends - 'Baruch ... Shome'a Tefilah'.

(d)Rav explains 'Me'ein Shemonah-Esrei' to mean - a shortened version of each of the middle B'rachos independently.

(e)Abaye pronounced a curse on anybody who Davens 'Havineinu'.

8)

(a)Rav Nachman Amar Shmuel objects to Davening it - on Motza'ei Shabbos and Motza'ei Yom-Tov ...

(b)... since one is then obligated to insert Havdalah.

(c)Rabah bar Shmuel queries Rav Nachman from a Beraisa. According to Rebbi Eliezer there, one inserts 'Havdalah' on Motza'ei Shabbos .... in 'Modim'. Rebbi Akiva says - as a fourth B'rachah

(d)In reply to Rabah bar Shmuel's suggestion to insert Havdalah as a fourth independent B'rachah, like Rebbi Akiva - Rav Nachman asked whether we follow Rebbi Akiva the whole year round, that we should do so on Motza'ei Shabbos ... .

9)

(a)We do not Pasken like Rebbi Akiva all the year round - because Chazal instituted eighteen B'rachos and not nineteen.

(b)We suggest that Rav Nachman Amar Shmuel ruling is based on the same logic - since when Chazal instituted 'Havineinu', they instituted seven B'rachos and not eight.

(c)We reject this proof however - in that there seems to be no reason as to why one should not incorporate Havdalah in 'Havineinu'.

10)

(a)Rav Bibi bar Abaye maintain that one cannot recite 'Havineinu' during the winter months - since one needs to ask for rain in Birchas ha'Shanim.

(b)We refute Mar Zutra's suggestion that we insert it in 'Havineinu' ('ve'Dashneinu bi'Ne'os Artz'cha ve'Sein Tal u'Matar ... ') - because one would easily become muddled up when doing so.

(c)We reconcile this with the fact that the Chachamim instituted Havdalah in 'Chonein ha'Da'as' and were not worried that one may err - since that is said at the beginning of the Amidah, whereas Birchas ha'Shanim is added in the middle.

11)

(a)Rav Ashi suggests that one inserts 've'Sein Tal u'Matar ... ' in Shome'a Tefilah, based on a statement of Rebbi Tanchum Amar Rav Asi, who ruled that someone who forgets ...

1. ... Gevuros Geshamim in Techi'as ha'Meisim - must begin the Amidah again.

2. ... She'eilah in Birchas ha'Shanim - simply adds it in 'Shome'a Tefilah'.

(b)We answer - that that speaks specifically where one erred, but is not permitted Lechatchilah.

(c)Rebbi Tanchum Amar Rav Asi also said that someone who forgot Havdalah in 'Chonein ha'Da'as' - does not need to repeat it ...

(d)... since he will anyway recite Havdalah over a cup of wine.

12)

(a)Initially, we reconcile the ruling of Rebbi Tanchum concerning 'Gevuros Geshamim' with the Beraisa which says 'Ein Machzirin oso' - by establishing the former by a Tefilas Yachid, and the latter, by a Tefilah be'Tzibur ...

(b)... who, we think, does not need to go back because he can be Yotzei with the Amidah that he hears from the Chazen.

(c)The problem with this is - that the reason does not tally with the reason given by Rebbi Tanchum.

(d)So we conclude that both Rebbi Tanchum and the Beraisa are speaking about be'Yachid. and the Tana says 'Machzirin oso' - because he is speaking about a case where one realized skipping 've'Sein Tal u'Matar only after having concluded 'Shome'a Tefilah'.

13)

(a)According to Rebbi Tanchum Amar ... Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi, someone who forgot to insert 'Ya'aleh ve'Yavo' on Rosh Chodesh, and who remembers only ...

1. ... during 'Modim' or during ...

2. ... during 'Sim Sholom' - goes back to 'Retzei'.

3. ... after he has concluded the Amidah - must begin the Amidah again.

(b)Rav Papa b'rei de'Rav Ada bar Acha defines 'concluded the Amidah' in this case - as having gone back three steps.

(c)If Rav Papa b'rei de'Rav Ada bar Acha learned this from his father, who learned it from -Rav,

14)

(a)Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak qualifies Rav Papa's ruling. One only needs to go back to 'Retzei' even if he has already gone back three steps - if he is accustomed to saying Tachanunim (i.e. 'Elokai') after the Amidah.

(b)According to the second Lashon, one must begin the Amidah again even if one has not yet gone back three steps - there where one does not usually recite Tachanunim.

15)

(a)There are four interpretations of Rebbi Eliezer's statement with reference to the importance of not making one's Tefilah fixed. When Rebbi Ya'akov bar Idi Amar Rebbi Oshaya defines it as 'Someone whose Tefilah is a burden to him', he means - that he Davens with the sole objective of ridding himself of his obligation to Daven.

(b)The Rabbanan explain that it pertains to someone who reads it mechanically, without feeling. According to Rabah and Rav Yosef - Rebbi Eliezer means that one must be able to insert something new (such as a personal prayer) into the Amidah.

(c)Rebbi Zeira claimed that he was able to insert something different in his Tefilos, and that he didn't - because he was afraid that he might become confused (and forget where is up to in the Amidah).

16)

(a)According to Abaye and Rebbi Chanina, the sons of Avin, Rebbi Eliezer is referring to anybody who does not Daven with 'the redness of the sun' - Shachris as the sun rises in the morning and Minchah as it is about to set in the evening.

(b)This is based on a statement of Rebbi Chiya bar Aba Amar Rebbi Yochanan, who said - that it is a Mitzvah to Daven with the redness of the sun.

(c)Rebbi Zeira subsequently learns from the Pasuk in Tehilim ...

1. ... "Yira'ucha Im Shemesh" - that one should Daven Shachris at that time, and from ...

2. ... "ve'Lifnei Yare'ach Dor Dorim" - that this is also the right times to Daven Minchah.

(d)They said in Eretz Yisrael that anybody who waits for 'the redness of the sun to Daven Minchah - earns himself a curse ...

(e)... because by leaving it till the last minute, he is liable to miss Minchah until it is too late.

17)

(a)Part of the Tefilah composed by Rebbi Yehoshua to recite in a place of danger reads 'be'Chol Parashas ha'Ibur, Yih'yu Tzorcheihem Lefanecha'. Rav Chisda Amar Mar Ukva translates it as - 'Even when they turn aside to transgress Your will, may their needs be before you'.

(b)Rebbi Eliezer, Rebbi Yehoshua and Rebbi Elazar b'Rebbi Tzadok argue over the text of the Tefilah that one recites when traveling in a location where there are bands of wild animals and robbers. Rav Huna Paskens like the fourth version of the B'rachah: 'Tzorchei Am'cha Merubim ve'Da'atam Ketzarah', composed by - Acherim.

18)

(a)The person who gave Rav Yehudah the brother of Rav Sala Chasida some good pieces of advice was - Eliyahu.

(b)He told him that if he did not get ...

1. ... angry or ...

2. ... drunk - he would not sin.

(c)And he advised him that, before setting out on a journey - he should consult his Creator.

(d)Rebbi Ya'akov Amar Rav Chisda defined that Tefilah as - 'Tefilas ha'Derech'.

19)

(a)Rebbi Ya'akov Amar Rav Chisda also said that anybody who sets out on a journey - must recite Tefilas ha'Derech.

(b)The gist of ...

1. ... the first half of is - a request that Hash-m should lead one to one's destination in peace and save one from all troubles that might occur along the way.

2. ... the second half is - that Hash-m should bless all one's endeavors and that one should find favor in the eyes of all those whom one comes across.

(c)It ends, like all the previous B'rachos - 'Baruch ... Shome'a Tefilah'.

(d)Abaye objected to Rebbi Ya'akov's text 'Y'hi Ratzon mi'Lefanecha Hash-m Elokai ... she'Tolicheini le'Shalom ... ' - because it is in the singular, and one should always connect oneself (in One's Tefilos) to the community.

(e)He therefore amended it to 'Y'hi Ratzon mi'Lefanecha Hash-m Elokeinu ... she'Tolicheinu le'Shalom ... '.