Here is something so that we have a Wednesday d’var torah (do I have a chazaka for Wednesdays yet?) Please continue to give and encourage others to sign up!!
The Importance of T’fillas Mincha (As Seen in the Sifsei Chaim (Rinas Chaim on Shmoneh Esrei)
During a Ta’anis, the Kehilla only says Aneinu (in their silent Shmoneh Esrei) by mincha. Why?
The Gemarra in Brachos says: “A person shall always be cautious with t’fillas mincha, for Eliyahi HaNavi was only answered during Mincha”. We see from here that their is a special segulah for mincha prayers to be accepted
The Tur adds to question of why is Mincha a special advantage? He says that Shachris has a set time when one wakes up, prior to going to work. Ma’ariv also has a set time, after one has come home, done with a day’s work. Mincha however, being in the middle of the day is during one’s working hours. One needs to stop working in order to daven. And one who is able to put their work aside in order to daven a proper mincha (with proper Kavana, not thinking about work or other things) one receives great reward. As it says in pirchei avos “???? ???? ????” in accordance with the struggle is the reward.
There is also another reason. During Shachris, one has Birchas HaShachar, pezukei d’zimra, Birchas Krias Shema and Krias Shema all prior to the Shmoneh Esrei of Shachris. It is therefore easier for one to have the proper mindset during Shmoneh Esrei. Ma’ariv also has Krias Shema and brachos before its Shmoneh Esrei. Mincha, however, only has Ashrei, and then immediately into Shmoneh Esrei. Therefore, if one is able to strengthen oneself to have the proper kavana during mincha, their reward will be great.
Since Mincha has the ability to be heard (accepted) greater than other t’fillos, it was therefore established that Aneinu be added only during Mincha on a ta’anis.
May we all be zoche to using the message, to strengthen our Mincha prayers, to say them with proper kavana and focus.