Q&A: On the Three Final Blessings of the Amidah Prayer
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This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
On the Three Final Blessings of the Amidah Prayer
Question
Hello Rabbi, Maimonides divides the Amidah prayer into three parts: the first 3 blessings are praise, the middle blessings are request, and the last three are thanksgiving. I have difficulty with classifying the last 3 as thanksgiving—I can understand why the blessing of Modim is thanksgiving, but regarding Retzeh and Sim Shalom I have no idea how they count as blessings of thanksgiving… I would be happy if the Rabbi could help me.
Answer
You are absolutely right. The last three are not thanksgiving, but rather general blessings, only one of which is thanksgiving. What is unclear is why Retzeh and Sim Shalom were not included among the requests. I do not know (see Megillah 18, but it is really not convincing).
They were intentionally included not among the requests:
We intend “all Israel has a share” and also “the souls of the righteous are with the Master of the Divine Presence,” therefore we give thanks and believe that God will return our souls to Zion—this is one of the principles of faith. And the request is that we should see it in our days, and if not then in the future; thanksgiving is also faith.
Be pleased, Lord our God, with Your people Israel and pay heed to their prayer,
and restore the service to the inner sanctuary of Your House, and the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayer quickly accept with love and favor,
and may the service of Your people Israel always be favorable.
And in Your great mercy may You delight in us and favor us,
and may our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy.
Blessed are You, Lord, who restores His Divine Presence to Zion.
Grant peace, goodness and blessing, life, grace and kindness (charity) and mercy, upon us and upon all Israel Your people.
And bless us, our Father, all of us as one (another version: together) with the light of Your countenance, for by the light of Your countenance You gave us, Lord our God, Torah and life, love and kindness, charity and mercy, blessing and peace.
And may it be good in Your eyes to bless us, and to bless all Your people Israel, with abundant strength and peace.
Blessed are You, Lord, who blesses His people Israel with peace. Amen.
Here too we give thanks that You gave us the Torah and that we are Your treasured people, the blessed ones; this too is among the principles (the 10 principles of faith).