How Shmuel Forgot What He Established
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Question
It is written in Berakhot, page 28b, that Shmuel HaKatan established (recomposed) the blessing against heretics and informers, and anyone who did not recite this blessing was removed from being a chazan for the following year. Shmuel HaKatan forgot it, yet he was not removed. How could he forget a blessing he himself established? Thank you very much.
Answer
Shalom Rav
The Tashbetz explained that his 'Torah was his craft', and he was exempt from prayer, so he did not recite it all year.
He further explained that due to the fear of the congregation, he forgot — as the incident occurred when he descended before the ark to be the shaliach tzibbur.
In the commentaries of Maharam Benet, it is stated that it was their custom that only the shaliach tzibbur recites the prayer, and the congregation listens and fulfills their obligation by listening, so it was not familiar in his mouth.
Source
Berakhot 28