women alike, since he was the ultimate peacemaker—he promoted shalom and amity among disputants, and between husbands and wives. This is consistent with Hillel’s advice in the Mishnah (Avos 1, 12): "הוי מתלמידיו של אהרן, אוהב שלום ורודף שלום, אוהב את הבריות ומקרבן לתורה"—be among the disciples of Aharon—love peace and promote peace, love your fellow creatures and bring them closer to Torah.
The Eighteen Berachos of Shemoneh Esrei Correspond to the Eighteen Times Moshe and Aharon Are Mentioned Together
I would now like to present to my esteemed readership a pearl of wisdom. Based on what we have discussed, we can better appreciate a teaching of Chazal in the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 2, 1) related to the passuk (ibid.): "וידבר ה' אל משה ואל אהרן לאמר. בי"ח מקומות אתה מוצא משה ואהרן שווים כנגד י"ח ברכות". “Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon, saying.” In eighteen places (in the Torah), you find Moshe and Aharon addressed as equals corresponding to the eighteen Berachos (the original Berachos of Shemoneh Esrei instituted by the Anshei Kenesses HaGedolah). The commentaries labor to explain what the connection is between Moshe and Aharon and the eighteen Berachos of Shemoneh Esrei.
Let us provide an explanation related to our current discussion based on what the Magen Avraham (O.C. 46) brings down in the name of the Arizal’s Sha’ar HaKavanos. Here are the sacred words of the Arizal:
Before one organizes his thoughts and prepares to pray in the Beis Kenesses . . . it is imperative that he accept upon himself the mitzvah of (Vayikra 19, 18) “loving your fellow Jew as yourself.” And he should have in mind to love every Jew as himself.
The rationale for this can be understood based on what is taught in the Mishnah (Oktzin 3, 12): "לא מצא הקב"ה כלי מחזיק ברכה לישראל אלא השלום, שנאמר ה' עוז לעמו יתן ה' יברך את עמו בשלום". HKB”H did not find a vessel better suited for preserving berachah for Yisrael than shalom, as it states (Tehillim 29, 11): “Hashem will give His nation strength; Hashem will bless His nation with shalom.” Now, the essence of the prayer service is the tefilah of Shemoneh Esrei; it encompasses the abundant good of all the Berachos. Therefore, before praying, it is advisable to prepare a vessel capable of preserving shalom to hold all of the Berachos. Hence, it is necessary to accept upon ourselves the mitzvah of "ואהבת לרעך כמוך" at the start of davening.
This is also why they instituted to conclude Shemoneh Esrei with the berachah of "שים שלום טובה וברכה"—grant shalom, goodness, and berachah. For, we have a fundamental principle that (Berachos 12a): "הכל הולך אחר החתום"—everything follows the conclusion.
This enlightens us as to why Chazal, with their profound wisdom, instituted the eighteen Berachos of Shemoneh Esrei corresponding to the eighteen times Moshe and Aharon are mentioned together in the Torah. After all, they were the first brothers who loved each other with exceeding self-sacrifice. As explained, this paved the way for all of Yisrael to also fulfill the mitzvah of "ואהבת לרעך כמוך" to the utmost.
In this manner, may we be privileged to establish a vessel capable of preserving and holding all of the Berachos that HKB”H bestows upon us with His infinite “rachamim” and goodwill!
