Q&A: The Patriarchs Blessing
The Patriarchs Blessing
Question
Hello and blessings,
According to Jewish law, it is ruled that someone who did not have proper intention during the Patriarchs Blessing must repeat the Amidah prayer (Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 101). The Rema there brings the words of the Tur that nowadays one does not repeat it, because we are concerned that he also will not have proper intention when he repeats it.
My question is: how can a person who is standing in the middle of the Amidah continue praying? After all, the rest of his prayer is not really a prayer, and he does not fulfill his obligation with it, and perhaps the blessings are even blessings said in vain?
Answer
This Rema is a wonderful example of a very bold meta-halakhic consideration, but one that is practically unavoidable. If there is no way to pray with proper intention, then he permits praying without intention, even if that means blessings said in vain. In his view, that is preferable to neglecting prayer altogether.
Discussion on Answer
With a bit of effort, a person can have intention regarding the plain meaning of the words. The Rema is aware of the reality that people simply do not concentrate, but this requirement is not beyond reach, so it is very hard to compare this to the “s'past nisht” considerations of secular courts and the like.
I disagree. If this were a reasonable requirement, there would be no room for such a frontal ruling against the Talmud. Beyond that, according to your view there is an a fortiori argument here. If the Rema makes a “past nisht” consideration in a case like this, then all the more so in more extreme situations.
I just now thought that this is actually a “past nisht” consideration. See Tur 448.