Shemoneh Esrei – The First Blessing
Rabbi Yitzchak Botton
The opening blessing of the Amidah is called Avot, because it recalls the merits of the Patriarchs – Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. In it, we praise God as the God of our forefathers, the great, mighty, and awesome God, who shows kindness and remembers the deeds of the righteous for the sake of their descendants.