How Many Times Should One Pray Each Day

"And Abraham again took a wife" (Genesis 25:1). Let our master teach us: how many prayers does a person pray in a day? Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: because the day changes three times each day, therefore a person must pray three times each day: in the morning the sun is in the east, at noon in the middle of the firmament, and in the afternoon in the west. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Abraham instituted the morning prayer, as it is said: "And Abraham rose early in the morning" (Genesis 19:27). Isaac instituted the afternoon prayer, as it is said: "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening" (Genesis 24:63). Jacob instituted the evening prayer, as it is said: "And he came upon the place and stayed there overnight, for the sun had set" (Genesis 28:11). Rabbi Akiva, when he prayed with the congregation, would pray in his usual manner. But when he prayed by himself, a person might leave him in one corner and find him in another corner, on account of his bowings and prostrations. And what reason did they have to institute three prayers? So that a person should keep adding to his prayer. And not in prayer alone, but in Torah too he should keep adding more and more. And not in Torah alone, but also in children. If he married a wife and she died, let him marry another and raise children through her. You may know this for yourself, for behold Abraham, whose wife died: he did not sit idle, but took a wife, as it is said: "And Abraham again took a wife."