The Sages established three daily prayers: Shacharit in the morning, Minchah in the afternoon, and Arvit (or Ma'ariv) in the evening. Why do we need three prayers?

"Rabbi Chelbo taught: one should always be careful regarding the Minchah prayer, for Elijah was only answered in this prayer .... Rabbi Yochanan taught: (One should be careful) also with the evening-prayer, as it says (Psalms 141:2), "May my prayer be as an incense-offering before You, as I lift my hands in the evening offering." Rabbi Nachman bar Yitzchak taught: Also with the Shacharit prayer, as it says (Psalms 5:4), "God, hear my voice in the morning; in the morning I will arrange my prayer to You and wait expectantly."" (Berachot 6b)

This discussion, upon examination, raises questions. It opens by stating that Minchah has some advantage over the other prayers, and thus requires special care. But then Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Nachman are quoted teaching that "Shacharit" and Arvit are also special — thereby implying that the three prayers are all equally important. What is going on?

Distinct Purposes

Some organs in the human body, like the kidneys, are doubled — not because we need two in order to live, but in case one should cease to function, we can rely on the second as a backup.

One might think the same holds true for the three prayers. We pray three times a day, in the hope that at least one prayer will be sincere and inspiring. The Talmud, however, rejected this idea. The three rabbis wanted to stress that each of the three prayers has its own special value; each one meets a specific spiritual need.

What then is the purpose of each of these prayers?

Restoring the Spirit

Our first need is to combat the corrupting influence of bad company. During the working day, we encounter all types of people, including some who are crass and unprincipled. These interactions affect us, and not for the good. They reinforce negative traits, and draw us towards frivolous and empty goals.

Prayer comes to restore this spiritual loss. We pour out our hearts to God, and the words of prayer raise us to pure and holy aspirations. Prayer washes away the superficial attraction of falsehood and the temporary corruption of our true values.

This spiritual restoration is the purpose of the Minchah prayer. It is prayed in the middle of the day, when we have the greatest involvement with many types of people.

Now we can understand why Rabbi Chelbo brought proof to the importance of Minchah from Elijah. The prophet's midday prayer was pivotal in his victory over the false prophets of Ba'al. In his prayer, Elijah sought Divine assistance to overcome the evil and idolatrous beliefs rampant among the numerous followers of Ba'al. Our Minchah prayer is a similar call for help in overcoming false and corrupting influences.

Repairing Thoughts

What is the purpose of the evening prayer? And why does the verse compare it to an offering of ketoret (incense)?

The ketoret offering was not performed publicly. It was burnt within the inner chamber of the Temple. The Sages thus taught that the incense atones for sins that are 'hidden' — private thoughts of malice and hatred, and surreptitious slander (Yoma 44a; Zevachim 88b). The inner service of the incense was a source of inspiration to cleanse the malicious thoughts and feelings lurking in the heart's inner chambers.

The evening prayer is recited at a time when we are secluded in our homes. The root cause of all social sins is the corruptive influence of an egocentric self-love. Like the inner service of ketoret, the goal of the night-time Arvit prayer is to elevate the spirit and prevent the soul from being sullied in selfish and petty thoughts.

Awakening the Spirit

What about the third prayer, the morning-prayer of Shacharit?

When we first rise in the morning, the soul's powers have not yet been corrupted by external sources. At the same time, they lack vitality and strength, having been dormant during the night's sleep. Therefore it is necessary to awaken these spiritual powers and organize them, so that they should be ready to contemplate elevated matters — justice and integrity, awe and love of God. This spiritual preparation is the goal of the morning-prayer.

For this reason, the verse categorizes the morning-prayer as a time when "I will arrange my prayer to You and wait expectantly." It is the hour when we direct the aspirations of the heart and arrange the powers of the soul. After this preparation in the beginning of the day, we anticipate Divine assistance to gain spiritual fortitude. As the Sages taught, "Those who seek to purify themselves are granted assistance from above" (Yoma 38b).

(Adapted from Olat Re'iyah vol. I pp. 17-18 (introduction); Ein Eyah vol. I p. 27)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison