(Mishnah): When they stand to pray, they put in front of the Aron (make Shali'ach Tzibur) a Chacham used to [the prayer], and he has children, and his house is empty, in order that his heart will be complete in his prayer;

He says in front of them 24 Brachos - the 18 of every [week]day, and he adds another six, and they are Zichronos, Shofaros, "El Hash-m b'Tzarasah Li'', "Esa Einai El he'Harim'', mi'Ma'amakim Kerasicha Hashem'', "Tefilah le'Ani Ki Ya'atof.''

(Gemara - Beraisa): He is humble, pleased to serve Hash-m, and he is used to Chachmah, and used to Agadah, and he has a house and field [so he very much wants rain].

Question: Our Mishnah says that his house is empty (he has no way to feed his family), and you say so?!

Answer: [His house should be empty] of Aveiros. (ALEI TAMAR)

He has sons and daughters. If they do not [have anyone with all the qualifications], they put whoever they want [to be Shali'ach Tzibur].

Question: Why are there 18 [Brachos without the additions]?

Answer #1 (R. Yehoshua ben Levi): This corresponds to 18 Tehilim from the beginning of the Sefer until "Ya'ancha Hash-m b'Yom Tzarah.''

Question: There are 19 [Tehilim before it]!

Answer: "Lamah Ragshu'' is not counted among them (it is part of the first Tehilim).

Inference: From here ("Ya'ancha Hash-m b'Yom Tzarah'') they said that if one prayed and was not answered, he needs a fast.

(R. Mana): [This verse] hints to Ta'aneh v'Te'ater - a person should tell his Rebbi "your prayer should be heard.'' (Radak (Sefer ha'Sherashim Eter) and Orchos Chayim (1 Yom Kipur 48) say that the custom is to give this Brachah on Motza'ei Yom Kipur.) (HAGAHOS YERUSHALMI)

Answer #2 (R. Simon citing R. Yehoshua ben Levi): It is corresponding to 18 vertebrae in the spine;

When a person stands and prays, he must bow with all of them. What is the source? "Kol Atzmosai Tomarnah Hash-m Mi Chamocha.''

Answer #3 (R. Levi): It is corresponding to 18 Azkaros (occurrences of Hash-m's name) in "Havu la'Shem Bnei Elim'' (Tehilim 29).

Question (Rav Chunah): There are [only] 17 [Brachos]!'' (The Yerushalmi holds that one includes Es Tzemach... in Boneh Yerushalayim, like it says below. Rav Chunah did not count Birkas ha'Minim, which was enacted later.)

Answer (R. Levi): Chachamim already established Birkas ha'Minim in Yavneh. (With it, there are 18.)

Question (R. Lazar bei R. Yosi, to R. Yosi): It is written "Kel ha'Kavod Hir'im'' (they should have established 19 Brachos)!

Answer (R. Yosi): It was taught [that one includes Es Tzemach] David in Boneh Yerushalayim. (Therefore, they are considered 19 Brachos.)

Objection: It was taught that he includes Minim (heretics) and intentional sinners in [Birkas] Machni'a Zedim, and Chachamim and converts in "Mivtach la'Tzadikim.'' (If you count inclusions like extra Brachos, you must add for these.) Do you have enough [Azkaros] for each one of these?!

Answer #4 (R. Chaninah citing R. Pinchas): They correspond to 18 times that the Avos are mentioned in the Torah - Avraham, Yitzchak and Yakov;

If one will say to you "there are 19 [mentions]!'', tell him that "v'Zacharti Es Brisi [Yakov]...'' is not counted (for the Avos are mentioned in reverse order).

If one will tell you [if you count only Avraham Yitzchak v'Yakov in order], there are [only] 17, tell him that "Zechor l'Avraham l'Yitzchak ul'Yisrael'' is counted (for Yisrael is Yakov).

Answer #5 (R. Shmuel bar Nachman citing R. Yochanan): They correspond to the 18 commands in the second Parshah of the Mishkan (in Pekudei. Really, there are 19; he does not count "va'Yar Moshe... Ka'asher Tzivah...'' (Shemos 39:43), for it merely says that Moshe saw that they did like Hash-m commanded.)

(R. Chiya bar Rav Ada): [We count] only from "v'Ito Ahali'av Ben Achisamach l'Mateh Dan'' until the end of the Sefer. (He excludes the previous verse (38:22, "u'Vetzalel Asah'', but includes "va'Yar Moshe...''. We explained Answers #3-5 like SHNOS ELIYAHU Brachos 4:3.)

Question: What is the source for the seven [Brachos in the Amidah] of Shabbos?

Answer #1 (R. Yitzchak): They correspond to the seven Kolos in "Havu la'Shem Bnei Elim.''

Answer #2 (R. Yudan Antundriya): They correspond to the seven Azkaros in "Mizmor Shir l'Yom ha'Shabbos.''

Question: What is the source for the nine [in Musaf] of Rosh Hashanah?

Answer (R. Ba Kartigna): They correspond to the nine Azkaros in Parshas Chanah, and it is written at the end "Hash-m Yadin Afsei Aretz.''

Question: What is the source for the 24 on fasts?

Answer (R. Chelbo and R. Shmuel bar Nachman): They correspond to the 24 times it is written in Parshas Shlomo (his request that Hash-m accept Tefilos in the Beis ha'Mikdash) Rinah, Tefilah and Techinah.

(R. Ze'irah citing R. Yirmeyah): On a Ta'anis Tzibur, an individual must mention me'Ein ha'Me'ora (what pertains to the day, i.e. Tefilas Aneinu). Where does he mention it? It is between Go'el Yisrael and Rofei Cholim.

What does he say? 'Aneinu (Answer us) Hash-m, answer us at this time, for we are in great affliction. Do not hide Your countenance from us, and do not ignore our supplications, for You Hash-m are a gracious and merciful G-d who answers at a time of affliction, who redeems and saves at every difficult time;

"Va'Yitz'aku El Hash-m ba'Tzar Lahem mi'Metzukoseihem Yotzi'em'' Baruch Atah Hash-m ha'Oneh b'Es Tzarah.'

(R. Yanai bei R. Yishmael citing Reish Lakish): Even an individual who decreed a fast on himself must mention me'Ein ha'Me'ora.

Question: Where does he mention it?

Answer #1 (R. Yanai citing R. Yishmael citing Beis R. Yanai): He says it in Shome'a Tefilah.

Answer #2 (R. Yonah citing Rav): Even an individual who decreed a fast on himself says it between Go'el Yisrael and Rofei.

(R. Ze'irah citing Rav Chunah): [He says it in every Tefilah,] like Shabbos (which we mention in Tefilah) night and day.

(R. Mana): I was unsure whether [we rule] like R. Yirmeyah, or like R. Yanai bei R. Yishmael. I went to the Beis Midrash, and heard Rav Chunah in the name of Rav that even an individual who decreed a fast on himself must mention me'Ein ha'Me'ora].

Question (R. Yosah): A Beraisa argues! Every day one [may] pray like 18 [Brachos, i.e. Havineinu, an abridged Shemoneh Esre mentioned below], except for Motza'ei Shabbos, Motza'ei Yom Kipur (for he must say Havdalah) and a Ta'anis Tzibur (due to Aneinu. This shows that on a Ta'anis Yachid, one need not say me'Ein ha'Me'ora, unlike Rav Chunah.)

Inference: Since R. Yosah said that the Beraisa argues, [this shows that R. Chunah] holds that even on a Ta'anis Yachid, he] says it between Go'el Yisrael and Rofei Cholim. (If he says it in Shome'a Tefilah, he could do so in Havineinu. The Beraisa teaches that only on a Ta'anis Tzibur, he must say all 18 Brachos, in order to say Aneinu between Go'el and Rofei. Starting from R. Mana, we explained like NO'AM YERUSHALAYIM.)

(R. Acha bar Yitzchak citing Rav Chunah Rabah of Tziporin): On Tish'ah b'Av, an individual must mention me'Ein ha'Me'ora;

What does he say? "Have mercy, Hash-m Elokeinu in Your great mercy and Your faithful Chesed, on us and on Your nation Yisrael, and on Yerushalayim Your city, and on Tziyon the dwelling of Your honor...

And on the mourning, destroyed desolate city, that is given in the hands of Zarim, that was trampled via oppressors and devoured through legions, and idolaters desecrated it...

For You gave it to Your nation Yisrael with love for an inheritance, and to the seed of Yeshurun You bequeathed it for an inheritance - for through fire You destroyed it, and through fire You will build it in the future, like it says "va'Ani Ehyeh Lah Ne'um Hash-m Chomas Esh Saviv ul'Chavod Ehyeh b'Sochah.''

Question (R. Avodama of Tziporin, to R. Mana): Where does he say it?

Answer (R. Mana): Do you still [need to ask] this? R. Yirmeyah said in the name of Rav that everything for the future, he says it in Avodah (Birkas Retzei). Everything that pertains to the past, he says it in Hoda'ah (Modim);

A Mishnah (Brachos 9:4) says so - he thanks for the past, and cries out for the future.

Question: What is seven [Brachos] like 18?

Answer #1 (Rav): [He says] the end of every Brachah.

Answer #2 (Shmuel): [He says] the beginning of every Brachah.

Some teach seven [Brachos] like 18, and some teach 18 like 18 (the Brachos are abbreviated);

The one who teaches seven like 18, he supports Shmuel (one Brachah in the middle encompasses the beginnings of the 12 middle Brachos). The one who teaches 18 like 18, he supports Rav (he says the closing of all the Brachos).

R. Ze'irah sent R. Nachum to R. Yanai bei R. Yishmael, to ask "what is seven like 18 that Shmuel says''? He said, it is 'Havineinu (give to us understanding), accept our Teshuvah, forgive us, redeem us, heal our sick, bless our years...'

R. Chagai says, if it was winter, he says 'rains of Brachah.' If it was [summer, i.e. days of] dews, he says 'dews of Brachah.'

[The Brachah continues] "for You gather the scattered, and it is upon You to judge those who stray, and You will put Your hand on the Resha'im, and all who trust in You will rejoice in You, in the building of Your city and the renewal of Your Beis ha'Mikdash...

For before we call You answer, like it says "v'Hayah Terem Yikre'u va'Ani E'eneh Od Hem Medabrim va'Ani Eshma Baruch Hash-m Ki Shama Kol Tachanunai Baruch Atah Hash-m Shome'a Tefilah'', and he says the first three Brachos and the last three Brachos.

(Mishnah - R. Yehudah): He did not need to say Zichronos and Shofaros. Rather, he says in place of them "Ra'av Ki Yihyeh ba'Aretz Dever Ki Yihyeh... "Asher Hayah Devar Hash-m El Yirmeyahu Al Divrei ha'Batzaros'', and he says the closing [of these Brachos].

(Gemara): All Brachos follow their closing (e.g. if he erred at the beginning, as long as he closed properly, he was Yotzei). We do not make a Brachah based on a verse (e.g. to say a verse, and then close the Brachah).

Question (R. Yitzchak b'Ribi Elazar, to R. Yosi): Since you say that they follow their closing (we are not concerned for what he said before), he should be able to make a Brachah based on a verse (for what precedes the closing does not matter)!

R. Yosi: This youth is a Chacham (this is a euphemism; really, he erred)! He thought, what is "we follow their closing''? If in the morning, he mentioned night [in the first Brachah of Keri'as Shma], and returned to close with Shacharis, he was Yotzei. (Really, "we follow...'' means that the closing must resemble what preceded it. If he mentioned night and immediately closed with Shacharis, he was not Yotzei! Therefore, we properly say that one cannot make a Brachah based on a verse. We explained the Sugya like MICHAL HA'MAYIM Brachos 11a.)

(R. Acha): All Brachos are like their closings (the closing must be like what preceded it);

Those who say "Tzahali va'Roni Yosheves Tziyon Ki Gadol b'Kirbech Kedosh Yisrael'', this is not [problematic due to] making a Brachah based on a verse (since there is an interruption between it and the closing).