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The Gemara (גמרא) in Berachos says Yitzchok instituted Mincha, while Yoma credits Avrohom. The Rambam (רמב"ם) resolves this by reading them as two distinct prayers: Avrohom established Mincha Gedolah (from 12:30) as a voluntary tefillah, and Yitzchok instituted Mincha Ketanah (later in the day) as the obligatory one. This explains why the Rambam describes Yitzchok's innovation as "lifnei shekias hayom" rather than simply "Mincha."
Rabbi Zweig addresses an apparent contradiction between two Gemaras regarding who instituted Mincha. In Parshas Chayei Sarah, the Torah (תורה) states that Yitzchok Avinu instituted tefillas Mincha. However, Tosafos (תוספות) in Berachos (and Yoma) raises a difficulty: while the Gemara (גמרא) in Berachos attributes Mincha to Yitzchok, the Gemara in Yoma refers to "tzlusa d'Avrohom" (Avrohom's prayer) and describes it as taking place "m'chi shachri kasfi" (when the walls start getting dark), which is clearly Mincha time. This creates a contradiction—did Avrohom or Yitzchok institute Mincha? Tosafos offers an answer quoting Rabbeinu Tam: after Yitzchok instituted Mincha, Avrohom began davening it, and the Gemara calls it "Avrohom's prayer" because he was the one who started davening it. Rabbi Zweig promises to explain this cryptic answer in a future shiur, but first presents the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s approach, which provides a completely different resolution.
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Parshas Chayei Sarah (Yitzchak's institution of Mincha); Gemara Berachos; Gemara Yoma
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Why didn't Noach daven for his generation while Avrohom advocated for Sedom? Noach viewed each person as an independent island responsible only for their own teshuvah. Avrohom understood that all humanity is interconnected through shared perspective and values, making prayer for others both possible and necessary.
