שולחן ערוך אורח חיים · סימן קט״ו

English

The reason for the blessing of "Ata Chonein" ["You grace humanity with knowledge", the fourth blessing of the weekday Amidah]. Containing 1 S'if: Since humanity's advantage over animals is understanding and intellect, they established the blessing of "Ata Chonein" as the first of the [the Amidah's] middle [blessings] since if we do not have understanding, there is no [capacity for] prayer.