On Berachos, 16B:
5) REQUESTS AFTER PRAYER)
(b) After R. Elazar finished Shemoneh Esreh, he would say "Yehi Ratzon...
If these are personal requests, how, do they differ from the personal requests in Shemoneh Esreh? Why is there this Part B of tefilah? You're done with Shemoneh Esreh, and now you have more bakashos? I can't find anything in Rashi or Tosafos. Do you have any sort of mehalech?
Thanks so much,
Mordechai Goldstein, Brooklyn, NY
I have not seen anyone who asks this question, but I suggest that Chazal did not include any requests for individuals in the Shemoneh Esrei. The entire Shemoneh Esrei is composed of requests for the general Tzibur. Presumably this is because Chazal instituted a Shemoneh Esrei in a way that it would be suitable for everyone throughout the generations.
However, individuals have the option of including personal requests of their choosing in the appropriate Berachah. Alternatively, they may make their request after the Berachah of Sim Shalom. If he chooses the latter the Shulchan Aruch (OC 119:2) says he may not ask in a lengthy manner. However it is only permissible to add in the actual Shemoneh Esrei occasionally, not as a fixed prayer (Beis Yosef 119 see also Aruch ha'Shulchan 119:2). Furthermore, the Mishnah Berurah (122:8) says that it is preferable to add after the Tefilah, so as not to avoid missing Kadish or Kedushah. Perhaps for these reasons the Amora'im said their private requests after the Tefilah.
Dov Freedman
FYI, I have since found out that both the Meiri adn the Tzelach address this Gemara and the Tzelach says something like they didn't want their tfilos to become "static" and the Meiri says they're not "bekashos" they're b'Toras tachanunim which is a nice way of ending one's prayers. If they were merely individual private bakashos, they could go in by Shma Koleinu, no?
Thanks for your efforts,
MG