Berakhot 32

Chana, Eliahu and Moshe all spoke to God impertinently. Even though it was frowned upon, God answered their prayers. How did Moshe get up the courage to stand before God and ask for forgiveness for the nation? The gemara brings several different options. What is the meaning of the phrase used for Moshe’s prayer “and Moshe beseeched (vayechal).” Six different explanations of the root of the word are brought. One should first praise God and then request – from where is this derived? What is more important – prayer or good deeds? Fasting or giving charity? Prayer or sacrifices? A priest who kills someone is not allowed to say the preistly blessing. Once there was no longer a temple, the doors to prayers being accepted were somewhat closed.Is it permissible to pray for an extended period of time. What is the risk? If one’s prayers aren’t answered, one should try again. The early pious people would sit an hour before and an hour after prayer. From where is this derived? If they spent also an hour praying, then most of the their day was spent in prayer – how did they learn well and work? For what is one allowed/not allowed to stop in the middle of prayer?