1. The differing number of berachos in the various Amidahs
The Gemara explains the differing number of berachos in the various Amidahs recited on special days:
- The seven berachos in the Shabbos Amidah correspond to the seven kolos (sounds) that Dovid
Hamelech mentioned in Psalm 29.
- The nine berachos in the Rosh Hashanah Amidah correspond to the nine times Chanah uttered
Hashem’s name in her tefillah.
- The 24 berachos in the fast day Amidah correspond to the 24 expressions of song (רננות (that Shlomo
Hamelech recited on the day the Aron was brought into the Kodesh Hakadashim (Holy of Holies).
2. Additional Tefillos
A number of additional tefillos are introduced:
- הביננו)Havineinu) - an abridged version of Shemoneh Esrei
- סכנה במקום קצרה תפילה - A short tefillah recited when in a dangerous place
- הדרך תפילת – Tefillas Haderech, the traveler’s prayer
3. Not making one’s teffilah “keva”
The Gemara cites four opinions regarding the meaning of “keva” (קבע (in R’ Eliezer’s statement that
one should not make his tefillah “keva.”
- Treating one’s tefillah like a burden
- Not davening like a supplicant (תחנונים דרך(
- Not innovating anything in one’s tefillah, i.e. not introducing any new requests from one tefillah
to the next
- Not davening when the sun is red, meaning immediately after sunrise or before sunset
Siman - Cots
The hospital cots were unfortunately full on Shabbos, Rosh Hashana and Fast Days because people
who had been travelling and going through dangerous places had treated their tefillos as a burden.