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Why did Avrohom institute Shacharis, Yitzchok Mincha, and Yaakov Maariv—rather than starting with Maariv, the way the day begins? The shiur explains that tefillah is man's partnership with Hashem (ה׳) in running the world, following man's work cycle that begins in the morning. This order reflects human vitality and capacity for avodah, not the calendar day.
The shiur opens with a fundamental question: Chazal teach that Avrohom instituted Tefillas Shacharis, Yitzchok instituted Mincha, and Yaakov instituted Maariv. But why this order? Since the Jewish day begins at night (vayehi erev vayehi voker), shouldn't Avrohom have instituted Maariv first, then Yitzchok Shacharis, and Yaakov Mincha? What logic drove the Avos to establish prayer in the sequence Shacharis, Mincha, Maariv? Rabbi Zweig brings the parallel question raised by the Gemara (גמרא) in Berachos. The first Mishna in Shas asks, "Me'eimasai korin es Shema ba'arvin—When do you start reading the Shema at night?" The Gemara questions why the Mishna begins with nighttime Shema rather than morning Shema. Tosafos (תוספות) explains that the Gemara's question is not arbitrary—there is a compelling reason to expect the morning to come first: the Torah (תורה) discusses korbanos beginning with the Korban Tamid shel Shachar (the morning offering) before the evening offering. This demonstrates that when the Torah addresses man's avodah, it starts with morning.
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Parshas Vayeitzei, Parshas Bereishis (Rashi on creation and prayer)
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