Institution of the Shmone Esrei

Question

Hello Rabbi. I wanted to ask a question related to our daily prayer. Was the nusach of Shmone Esrei instituted by Men of the Great Assembly (Anshei Knesset HaGedolah) before of after the destruction of the Second Temple? Thank you

Answer

Shalom! 

Thank you for your question. 

There is indeed a lot of discussion as to the origins of the Shemoneh Esrei prayer. 

It seems the first efforts to codify the Shemone Esrei were by Rabban Gamliel who appointed Shimon Hapikoli to edit the blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei. At about this time, the Shemoneh Esrei was also instituted as a thrice daily obligation. 

That being said, it was originally composed by the Anshei Knesset HaGedolah at the beginning of the Second Temple period but was later forgotten and Rabban Gamliel reinstated them. 

Source

 Berachot 28b, 33a; Megilla 17b, 18a; Sifre, Devarim 343 

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