Question:
After a long tiring day, I was davening mincha and was became unsure that I recited the last line of a Bracha in the amida. I repeated the Shmona Esrei with the stipulation that if I had not erred, I would be saying it as a tfillah nedava, and if I had, I would be correcting my amida.
During the second amida, I again became unsure I said a concluding line of the final Bracha, so I repeated the Bracha, but then read that j should have repeated the last 3 brachot as they are recited as a unit.
I therefore recited the amida a third time because I was unsure if any of my amidot were satisfactory. Was I correct in doing so? Being a woman, I know there is some debate as to whether or not tfillot nedavot are even necessary. I’m now feeling like I potentially said a lot of unnecessary brachot, and I’m unsure if this was the correct way of doing so.
Answer:
In general nowadays a number of poskim say that we don’t daven a tefilas nedava, especially women. The reason is that in order to daven a tefilas nevadava, there are two conditions, 1. That the person concentrate and know what is being said for the whole Shemona Esrei, and 2. To add a special request during the Shemona Esrei (preferably for each of the middle brachos). That being the case numerous poskim say that nowadays we don’t daven a tefila nedava, especially in your situation where it is after a long day and it is hard for you to concentrate. Therefore we will have to rely on the assumption that when you davened, and you are used to saying all the words, that you indeed did say them. You meant well, and you know better what to do in the future.
Best Wishes
Sources:
Chayei Adam 27-17, M:B 94-27 quoting the Pri Megadim, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 21-10,
