The Order of Shevach and Bakashah (Part 1) (Rashba on Berachos 32a)

I was recently asked a question about what, exactly, we're doing when we praise Hashem in tefilah. I was also recently asked the same question about making requests in tefilah. In this evening's tefilah shiur (10/14/21) our goal was to address both topics simultaneously. We began learning the Rashba's commentary on Berachos 32a in which he explains a machlokess in Avodah Zarah 7b about whether we should engage in shevach (praise) first and bakashah (request) afterwards, or vice versa. The Rashba forewarns us that this Gemara contains some fundamental ideas about tefilah - and he was right! Next time we'll attempt to refine these ideas and finish the Rashba. After that, we'll either continue in this topic or switch back to Tehilim.