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Before we begin the Shemoneh Esreh each morning, we say the blessing, "Blessed are You, Hashem, Who redeemed Israel (Ga'al Yisrael)." Then within the Shemoneh Esrei itself, in the "Re'eh va'ahneynu" section, we conclude "Blessed are You Hashem, Redeemer of Israel (Go'el Yisrael)." Aside from the use of the past tense and the present tense, there doesn't seem to be much difference in the blessing. Moreover, as I understand it, our tradition is to not to say anything between the blessing of Ga'al Yisrael and the Shemoneh Esrei so that we don't make a break in the connected concepts of redemption and prayer. O.C. 66:7. What is the substantive difference between these two blessings, if any?

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I don't see the bracha of ga'al as asking for anything -- it is a recognition of past events. In the zchut of our recognizing that, we can move forward to (eventually) ask for a continuation of such salvation in the bakashot. – Dan Feb 19 at 19:04
See Pesachim 117b – Double AA♦ Feb 19 at 19:13
Also not that Goel might be the present tense verb, not a noun. – Double AA♦ Feb 19 at 19:25
@Dan I don't think that's true. See the gemara I referenced above. – Double AA♦ Feb 20 at 6:42

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