The Gemorah in Mesechta Megilla relates that when Esther reached the inner chamber, the Shechina escaped her. Upon reflection, Esther concluded that this was a consequence for referring to Achashveirosh as a dog. She immediately changed course and bestowed on him the name- lion as she cried out to Hashem, “Hoshieini mipi aryeh”- “Save me from the mouth of the lion”.

Why would Esther second-guess herself for calling Achashveirosh a dog? What issur did she transgress? He was a horribly evil man! The Gemorah extrapolates from a possuk that he never veered from his banal evil from beginning to end. The Medresh testifies that he partnered with Amalek and harbored greater animosity to the Yidden than Haman. He signed off on the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Jews; men, women and children! He stood in the way of the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash and shared the desire of Nevuchadnetzar that its glory should remain destroyed. This was a person who indulged in a half-year’s wild, hedonistic partying celebrating the downfall of the Jewish people!

Why would she fault herself for having said something out of well-placed frustration and in private? Did he deserve higher ratings?

Another aspect that needs to be analyzed is that which Chazal tell us that Esther rectified her condescending description by referring to Achashveirosh as a lion. Why would he be deserving of this appellation commanding awe and reverence?

The Brisker Rav presented an incredible analysis of Esther’s conduct. Imagine walking on the street and an imposing looking dog is coming towards you, your heart might skip a beat and you may worry that it could be a mad dog. Nevertheless, you do not fear for your life and you hope that the dog will simply pass by with a mere sniffing of you. You would certainly issue a silent prayer that the dog should not hurt you. However, you have a strong feeling that you will be eased out of this predicament even without the help of your tefilos. In contrast, envision encountering a lion approaching you as you saunter down the road. Undoubtedly, you would not think of anything but an impending death in the teeth of this monstrous beast. The impulsive reaction would be a heartrending cry of tefiloh, “Save me- Shema Yisroel etc.”

When Esther referred to the king as a kelev, she was indicating that she did not perceive the situation to be hopeless, rather, she likened it to escaping from a dog. There was reason to assume that tefilos were not entirely necessary to escape the danger of Achashveirosh and his minions. When Esther realized that the Shechina eluded her, she grasped that it was her lack of positioning Hashem as the ultimate and only avenue of yeshuah. With this renewed perspective she cried out, “Spare me from the jaws of the lion”. Protection from the death-grip of a lion can be orchestrated by the Ribono Shel Olam alone.

When Esther understood that tefiloh operates under the notion that the tefiloh is indispensable for salvation, the Shechinah returned and accompanied her to initiate the geulah process.

Adar is a month that proclaims openly the power of tefiloh and the accomplishments of tefiloh. Tefiloh with firm belief that everything is choreographed with His divine vision and can overturn harsh decrees and difficult moments. May our tefilos do just that.

What is the proper way to separate the regular Shemoneh Esrei from the tashlumin?

Before each tefilla of Shemoneh Esrei, one is supposed to say uplifting pesukim such as those found in Ashrei. These pesukim should also be said before a tefillas tashlumin. Therefore, during Shacharis one should first daven the regular tefilla, then Chazoras Hashatz, then Tachanun, then Ashrei, and finally the make-up Shemoneh Esrei. If one does not wish to delay his tashlumin until after Ashrei, he should at least wait until he hears Kedushah. Alternatively, he may say his second Shemoneh Esrei along with the chazan and answer to Kedushah during his Shemoneh Esrei. During Mincha, as well, one should repeat Ashrei between the regular Shemoneh Esrei and the make-up Shemoneh Esrei. The poskim disagree about whether one may say Ashrei between the first and second Shemoneh Esrei during Ma’ariv.

סי' ק"ח ס"ב ס"ק י"ב-י"ד ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 26

Can there be a break between the regular Shemoneh Esrei and the tashlumin?

L’chatchilah, the make-up Shemoneh Esrei should be said almost immediately after the first Shemoneh Esrei (see above). If, b’dieved, they were not connected, the poskim disagree about whether one may still daven the make-up tefilla. Most Achronim hold that the second tefilla can still be said within the zman of the regular tefilla. Thus, one may daven a make-up for Ma’ariv any time within the first four hours of the day. After four hours, he may not daven the make-up unless he also davened Shacharis after four hours. If a person missed Mincha, the poskim disagree about whether he must daven the make-up tefilla before midnight.

 ס"ג ס"ק ט"ו ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 31

Can a person who wakes up from a coma make up all the tefillos he missed?

The Rishonim disagree about whether tashlumin only applies during the next immediate tefilla or whether one can daven multiple tashlumin for many tefillos which were missed. The halacha only allows tashlumin during the next tefilla. Therefore, if a person missed Shacharis and Mincha, he should only recite Ma’ariv twice, the first being the obligatory Ma’ariv and the second being the tashlumin for Mincha. He may, however, choose to daven as many tefillos nedavah as the number of tefillos that he missed. Therefore, if one was in jail or was sick for an extended period, he may daven tefillos nedavah for all the tefillos he missed. If he recovers or is freed on Rosh Chodesh, he should add Ya’aleh V’yavo to each of these tefillos. In deference to the opinion that there is an obligation, one should stipulate before the tefillos nedavah that if he is obligated, he intends for these tefillos to be the obligatory tefillos.  

ס"ד-"ס"ה ס"ק י"ח-י"ט 

• A woman who regularly davens should also keep the halachos of tashlumin. For Ma’ariv, however, there is no tashlumin for a woman, even if she regularly davens Ma’ariv. A child who is the age of chinuch should be taught to do tashlumin if he misses a tefilla.

• The make-up Shemoneh Esrei is davened after the obligatory Shemoneh Esrei of the next tefilla. The first Shemoneh Esrei must be for the obligation and the second tefilla for the make-up. If it is clearly apparent that the order was reversed, he is not yotzei his obligation for tashlumin and he will have to daven for a third time.

• In a case where a person intended for his first tefilla to be for the present obligation, but he made a critical omission which required him to repeat Shemoneh Esrei, the poskim discuss whether he must repeat his tashlumin as well.  

• Is there tashlumin if one misses davening due to laziness?

• Is preventing a monetary loss a reason to miss davening?

• What is the nusach for tashlumin on Shabbos?