The Nature of Nusach (Liturgy) Part 1: How and Why Ezra Changed Tefilah

The Tefilah Podcast

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Length: 46 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (11/8/24), in our tefilah-focused Machshavah Lab series for women, we began a new topic: the nusach ha'tefilah (liturgy). We began by reviewing the relevant facts: what the mitzvah of tefilah from the Torah entailed, how Ezra and his Beis Din changed it, and the historical reasons why. I then presented my understanding of the REAL reasons why tefilah desperately needed this change, which I supported by drawing upon Rav Hirsch's commentary on Migdal Bavel. We didn't have time to start the major question I had hoped to get to, which is: If Ezra and his Beis Din instituted a standardized nusach, then what is the origin of the wide variety of nuschaos we have today?
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מקורות:
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר אהבה, הלכות תפלה וברכת כהנים א:ד
מעשה רקח שם
מלבי"ם - נחמיה יג:כד
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר אהבה, הלכות קריאת שמע א:ז
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר אהבה, הלכות ברכות א:ה-ו
רש"ר הירש - בראשית יא:ז
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This week’s Torah content has been sponsored by Yael Weiss. I forgot to ask her for a dedication message in advance, but in the meantime, I’ll dedicate this Torah content to the entire Weiss family: Rabbi and Sara, Yael and Esti, Eli and Benji, with a special shout-out to Rabbi Weiss Sr. Thank you for supporting what I do and for being part of my learning life, each in your own way!
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