“Yitzchak went out to pray in the field towards evening.” (24:63)
Rashi translates “lasu’ach,” which generally means “to speak,” as “to pray.” This follows the Talmudic tradition that Yitzchak established Tefillas Mincha, the afternoon prayer. However, the Ba’alei Hatosafos point out an apparent contradiction. The Talmud in Tractate Yoma refers to the afternoon prayer as “Tsilusa D’Avraham,” “the prayer of Avraham,” which begins “when the walls cast shadows upon the ground.” If Yitzchak established the Mincha prayer, why is it referred to as the prayer of Avraham?
In Hilchos Melachim, the Rambam states that Yitzchak was the patriarch who established the notion of praying “lifnos hayom,” toward the end of the day. The Torah records that Yitzchak prayed “lifnos erev,” toward evening. What message is the Rambam conveying by changing the language of the verse?
In Hilchos Tefillah, the Rambam records that the Sages established the tefillah for Mincha “bein ha’arbayim,” in the afternoon, corresponding with the daily afternoon offering in the Temple. The daily afternoon offering was brought nine and one-half hours into the day. On Erev Pesach, this offering was brought six and one-half hours into the day to accommodate the bringing of the Korban Pesach. These two time periods are known, respectively, as “Mincha Gedolah,” the “larger” Mincha (because the greater portion of the day remained), beginning six and one-half hours into the day, and “Mincha Ketanah,” the “smaller” Mincha (because the smaller portion of the day remained), beginning nine and one-half hours into the day. The Rambam rules that although the preferred time for Mincha is Mincha Ketanah, one may begin praying Mincha when Mincha Gedolah commences. The Rambam cites a custom that dates back to the period of the Ga’onim (seventh to ninth centuries) of praying both at Mincha Gedolah and Mincha Ketanah.
What is the basis for this custom? Furthermore, whether the offering was brought six and one-half hours or nine and one-half hours into the day, should it not be viewed as one long period? Why do the Sages divide the time for praying Mincha into two periods?
The Talmud identifies the time to begin Avraham’s prayer as “when the walls cast shadows upon the ground.” This is immediately after noon, otherwise known as Mincha Gedolah. Yitzchak, the Torah relates, prayed Mincha toward the evening. The Rambam states that this was specifically at the end of the day, for Yitzchak was establishing the opportune time for Mincha as Mincha Ketanah. Although the parameters of the daily prayer times were set based upon the daily offering in the Temple, the channels of service were opened by our Patriarchs. Avraham was responsible for establishing the morning service for his progeny. His afternoon prayer was not intended to serve as a beacon for future generations. This undertaking he left to his son, Yitzchak. Yitzchak established the prayer of Mincha at a different time period than previously performed by his father. Although Yitzchak is the patriarch responsible for instituting the prayer of Mincha, Avraham’s personal prayer was effective in broadening the time period for which the channel of the afternoon service would be open.
RABBI YISSACHAR FRAND
RABBI YOCHANAN ZWEIG
