סומך גאולה לתפילה

The Talmud in מסכת ברכות emphasizes the importance of being סומך גאולה לתפילה. This means that we are to say the Bracha of גאל ישראל before we say Shmone Esrei both at Shacharit and Maariv.

The idea of גאל ישראל is that we acknowledge Hashem’s kindness in redeeming us from Egypt. It is a kind of praise that we give Hashem before we make our thirteen requests in the Shmone Esrei.

This acknowledgement of our redemption from Egypt serves two purposes according to Rabbeinu Yona. The first is that our freedom from bondage was to drive home the message that as free men, we are only meant to be עבדי ה׳, servants of G-d, and not servants to anything else. The Rabbis say that one who is truly free is עוסק בתורה, involves himself in Torah study.

The second point in remembering the Redemption is that we enforce the idea that it is good to put our trust in Hashem. Just as we were redeemed from Egypt, we will also be redeemed at the time of Mashiach.

We should now think about this when we say the blessings of גאל ישראל in the morning and evening.