Joining Redemption & Prayer - Part 2
There is an opinion that the requirement to join the blessing of Geulah (Redemption) to the Tefillah (Shemoneh Esrei prayer) applies only on weekdays and holidays (because they are days of judgment), but not on Shabbat… however, it is good to be stringent unless it is necessary. (Rema 111:1)
The above ruling is based on the Hagahot Ashri’s comments on the Yerushalmi, which deduces the requirement to join geulah and tefillah from the juxtaposition of two verses in Tehillim (19:15 and 20:1) that speak about redemption and praying in a time of distress. He writes that since the verse speaks about a time of distress, Shabbat is not included.
The Beit Yosef disagrees with Hagahot Ashri, explaining that the drasha (method of Biblical interpretation) in the Yerushalmi is only an asmachta (Rabbinical method of connecting a ruling to a verse), but does not mean to exclude the day of Shabbat from the requirement.
The Mishneh Berurah explains that the Rema’s phrase “unless it is necessary” means that one may answer “amen yehei shemei rabba”, Kedusha, and Barchu on Shabbat, while during the week one would not.
The Kaf Hachaim explains that in addition to the many poskim who agree with the Beit Yosef (Teferet Shmuel, Pri Chadash, Sha’agat Aryei and others), according to the Kabbalistic reason found in the writings of the Arizal one is required to join Geulah to Tefillah every day, including Shabbat.
