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In our prayers we ask for the return of judges, the line of David as king and a return to Jerusalem among many other things. I am not aware of any prayer which asks for a return of prophecy, prophets or an individual request to achieve prophecy.

Does any such prayer exist as part of the formalized prayers included in any siddur nusach or denomination or has any such prayer existed previously (but is no longer in use)? If not, why not?

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  • Is that something we want? (excluding the specific prophets messiah/elijah assuming they will be prophets, for which there are already prayers.)
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Dec 20, 2023 at 15:29
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    The prayers were formalised when there was still prophecy, although the Anshei Knesset Hagedola did seem to be just about still around when prophecy ended
    – Rabbi Kaii
    Commented Dec 20, 2023 at 15:31
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    Perhaps it is because prophecy is a consequence of the messianic era. All the abovementioned are prerequisites of the messianic era. For example, we do not pray that each man sit beneath his grape vine and date tree in equanimity (Mikhah 4:4). We trust in the prophets that such will typify the reality of that future era. In the interim we pray for those aspects which are prerequisites (and perhaps within our hands to bring about) that future.
    – Deuteronomy
    Commented Dec 20, 2023 at 16:01
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    @rikitikitembo attainment of character refinement and/or connection with God is the goal worth praying for, prophecy or not.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Dec 20, 2023 at 17:58
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    There is??? Ve'yoatzeinu kevat'chilah
    – The GRAPKE
    Commented Dec 20, 2023 at 18:19

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Prophecy only existed when there was an inclination for idol worship (GRA on Seder Olam 30:2, Sefer Hasidim Pharma ed 544). The Sages prayed for the removal of that inclination and said "We do not want it, and we do not want its reward" (Sanhedrin 64a) i.e. prophecy (Michtav m'Eliyahu 4:105). Praying for prophecy is the opposite of what they did.

See also Abudarham, Haftorot quoting a Midrash that the Jews says we're not interested in prophets' words after the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash rather we want a direct line. Maybe this can be connected to "A wise man (in Torah - Zohar Tzav) is better than a prophet" Batra 12a). This fulfilled Hashem's desire of "if only they left me but kept my Torah" (Intro to Eichah Rabbah 2). After the loss of prophecy, the sages of the Mishna flourished.

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  • academia.edu/1818773/Did_Prophecy_Cease does that mean we should not pray for Moshiach because the inclination to idolatry will return?
    – rikitikitembo
    Commented Dec 20, 2023 at 18:16
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    In the days of mashiach there will be no yetzer (Sukkah 52a sefaria.org/Sukkah.52a.2)
    – Mordechai
    Commented Dec 20, 2023 at 18:23
  • Around 1 million Jews in the past 50 years have converted to xtianity or Messianic cults. The taava for Avodo zoro still stands
    – KapinKrunch
    Commented Sep 1 at 15:52
  • @KapinKrunch That's a taavah to be like the non-Jews in general. The yetzer hara for avodah zarah was where a person would still consider themselves a Jew in good standing and that a"z wouldn't interfere with that, much like nowadays a person might think the same way about lashon hara or dishonesty in business.
    – Meir
    Commented Sep 1 at 16:25
  • @KapinKrunch theres no taavah for it. one may decide using his brain to reject judaism but a taavah comparable to sensual lust does not exist
    – Mordechai
    Commented Sep 1 at 20:15

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