The Amidah is a central part of Jewish worship and is considered to be the most important prayer in the Jewish tradition. In each of the four services, a shacharit
Shacharit
Shacharit [ʃaχaˈʁit] (Hebrew: שַחֲרִית šaḥăriṯ), or Shacharis in Ashkenazi Hebrew, is the morning Tefillah (prayer) of Judaism, one of the three daily prayers. Different traditions identify different primary components of Shacharit. Essentially all agree that Pesukei dezimra, the Shema and its bl…
Mussaf
Mussaf is an additional service that is recited on Shabbat, Yom Tov, Chol Hamoed, and Rosh Chodesh. The service, which is traditionally combined with the Shacharit in synagogues, is considered to be additional to the regular services of Shacharit, Mincha, and Maariv. In contemporary Hebrew, the word may also signify a newspaper supplement.
Prayer builds the relationship between God and human beings. When people pray, they spend time with God. To pray is to serve God with your heart, obeying God's commandment: ...to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 11:13.
What is the meaning of Amidah?
The word Amidah literally means standing, because it is recited while standing. It is also known as Shemoneh Esrei, meaning eighteen, because it originally consisted of eighteen blessings, and as tefilah (prayer) because it is the most important Jewish prayer.
How is the Amidah recited in a Jewish service?
During the worship service, the amidah is first recited by each individual as a silent prayer, giving any sinner a chance to atone without embarrassment. The prayer is then repeated aloud by the reader. There is never a Jewish service without an amidah.
What is the Amidah (Hatefillah)?
Moving from praise to petition to thanksgiving, the Amidah inculcates a sense of connection to God. The Amidah is the core of every Jewish worship service, and is therefore also referred to as HaTefillah, or “ The prayer.” Amidah, which literally means, “standing,” refers to a series of blessings recited while standing.
What is Amidah (standing blessing)?
Amidah, which literally means, “standing,” refers to a series of blessings recited while standing. Find a version of the weekday Amidah in Hebrew and English here, or consult a prayer book of your choice.
What is the meaning of the Amidah?
amidah, plural amidoth, or Amidot, Hebrew ʿamida (“standing”), in Judaism, the main section of morning, afternoon, and evening prayers, recited while standing up.
What are the blessings of the Amidah?
Bless upon us, O Eternal our God, this year and all kinds of its produce for goodness, and bestow dew and rain for blessing on all the face of the earth; and make abundant the face of the world and fulfil the whole of Thy goodness. Fill our hands with Thy blessings and the richness of the gifts of Thy hands.
What is the Amidah prayer in English?
Bless us, our Father, one and all, with the light of Your face. For by the light of Your face you have given us, Lord our God, a Torah of life and love of kindness, charity, blessing, mercy, life and peace. May it please You to bless Your people Israel at all times and in every hour with Your peace.
Why do Jews find the Amidah important?
The Amidah is another important prayer in Judaism and is the central prayer used in worship services. It is often referred to as the 'standing prayer' as it is always recited while standing and facing Jerusalem . This prayer consists of 19 blessings, which can be split into three sections: praising God.
Can the Amidah be said at home?
The prayers that one should say at home on a Saturday morning if unable to attend synagogue are: Morning Blessings, Psalm 96, Blessings Before the Shema, the Shema, the Blessing After the Shema, the Shabbat Morning Amida, and the Mussaf Amida.
What is the most important Hebrew prayer?
Observant Jews consider the Shema to be the most important part of the prayer service in Judaism, and its twice-daily recitation as a mitzvah (religious commandment).
What are the 3 prayers?
The prayer of protection. The prayer of transformation. The prayer of restoration.
How do you say Amidah in Hebrew?
1:234:21The Amidah: How to Say This Jewish Prayer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo for example the prayer begins with Baru. And it is traditional to been one's knees at baru. AndMoreSo for example the prayer begins with Baru. And it is traditional to been one's knees at baru. And then bow at Tata. And then rise at mention of God's. Name. That is done twice.
What is the purpose of the middle 13 blessings of the Amidah?
The Middle Section Of these 13 requests recited during the weekday Amidah, the first five are essentially personal, or individual requests to God to improve the situation of each person.
What are the 3 prayers?
The prayer of protection. The prayer of transformation. The prayer of restoration.
What are the 3 daily prayers?
Daily prayersShacharit (morning prayers)Mincha (afternoon prayers)Ma'ariv/Arvit (evening prayers)
What is a Mincha offering?
The Hebrew noun minḥah (מִנְחָה) is used 211 times in the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible, with the first uses referring to vegetable and animal offerings brought by Cain and Abel to God. Most other uses refer to a gift offering, made of grain, which could be offered at any time in the day.
What is the difference between the Amidah and the Amidah?
The only difference between the Amidah of the different services of the day is the final blessing, for peace. In the Ashkenazi tradition, a shorter version of this blessing, starting with the words " shalom rav " is said at mincha and maariv.
Why is the Amidah not repeated at Maariv?
The reason the Amidah is not repeated at maariv is because the Talmud treats maariv as originally having been optional, meaning that it does not have the same level of obligation.
Why is the Priestly Blessing recited only during Rosh Hashanah?
In Ashkenazi synagogues outside of Israel, the Priestly Blessing is recited only during the musaf Amidah of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach, Succot, and Shavout because of an idea that the Priestly Blessing should only take place in an atmosphere of cheerfulness, and a holiday has extra happiness.
Why are the blessings on Shabbat the same?
In all versions of the Amidah, the first and last three blessings stay the same. The middle thirteen blessings, however, are said only on weekdays. On Shabbat and holidays they are replaced by a single blessing that relates to sanctification of the day. The main reason for this is that the Talmud says it is forbidden to ask for one's personal needs on Shabbat. Doing so reminds one of what is lacking, which takes away from the feeling of spiritual and physical contentment that should be present on Shabbat and holidays. Others say that on Shabbat, one lives as if the messianic age has arrived and therefore has no need to petition God; the petitions are thus eliminated and replaced with other prayers. Parts of this middle blessing, the paragraph that begins, " elohenu velohei avotenu retze bmnuchatenu " (Our God and God of our Father, be pleased with our rest), and the part that contains requests to "sanctify us through Thy commandments," remain the same on every Shabbat and festival. The beginning of this middle blessing changes, however, between the three services of the day. The Friday night service stresses God's sanctification as it relates to the creation of the world. The Shabbat morning service speaks of God's command to Israel to keep the Shabbat as set forth in the Ten Commandments. The Shabbat afternoon service stresses the unity of God and the singularity of the Jewish people. Also, on all holidays, but not on Shabbat, ya'aleh v'yavo is incorporated into the middle blessing.
How many blessings are in the Amidah?
Either way, the Amidah contains three sections: a three-blessing introduction made up of praises of God; thirteen petitions to God for various needs; and a closing of three blessings of thanksgiving. The model for this structure is how one would approach a powerful ruler or how a servant would approach a master.
What is the minyan of Kedushah?
Kedushah is said only with a minyan (quorem of ten), and may not be interrupted for conversation. Like the Amidah itself, it should be said while standing with one's feet together. Even if one happens to be present, and not praying, while the Kedushah is recited, one must stop what he is doing and join in.
What does the final supplication of the Amidah say?
The final supplication asks God to hear our prayers. The closing three blessings speak of the hope of return to Temple worship, thanksgiving to God, and a prayer for peace. Following the Amidah, one says a meditation that is based on the silent supplications of various rabbis recorded in the Talmud.
What is the meaning of the amidah?
The Amidah is the core of every Jewish worship service, and is therefore also referred to as HaTefillah, or “ The prayer.” Amidah, which literally means, “standing,” refers to a series of blessings recited while standing.
Who recites the Amidah?
The Amidah is recited silently by all members of a congregation — or by individuals praying along — and then, in communal settings, repeated aloud by the prayer leader or cantor, with the congregation reciting “ Amen ” to all the blessings of the Amidah.
What are the first three blessings of the Amidah?
The first blessing is called Avot, Hebrew for “ancestors, ” and serves as an introduction to the God of our biblical heritage, connecting us to the Divine. Immediately before reciting the Amidah, the tradition developed of taking three steps backward and then forward again to symbolize entering into God presence. Mentioning the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob –and in liberal congregations, the matriarchs, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel –this blessing praises God for remembering their good actions, and by implication, asking God to hear our prayer favorably because of their merit. The blessing begins and ends with a formal bow at the knees and hips, symbolically demonstrating our subservience to God.
How many blessings are in the middle section of the Amidah?
The Middle Section. On weekdays, the middle section of the Amidah consists of 13 blessings that are individual and communal requests to God. Originally consisting of only 12 petitions, the total number of blessings recited was 18, hence, an early synonym for the Amidah was the Shemonah Esrei, or the Eighteen.
What does the Amidah say about Shabbat?
On Shabbat morning, the entire middle section of the Amidah describes Moses receiving the Ten Commandments followed by the verses from the book of Exodus (31:16-17) that describe the observance of Shabbat as a sign of the covenant between God and the Jewish people.
What are the three sections of the Amidah?
Thus, every Amidah is divided into three central sections: praise, petitions and thanks .
What is the middle portion of the Amidah?
On festivals, particularly the pilgrimage holidays of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, the middle portion of the Amidah similarly describes how God has given these holidays as a gift to the Jewish people for joy and celebration. There are also references to the biblical patriarchs, King David, and Jerusalem to be remembered in glory.
What Is The Amidah?
What Does The Amidah Look like?
- Walking into a synagogue, it is easy to tell when the congregation is saying the Amidah versus the rest of the prayers. Prior to the Amidah, the entire congregation rises and takes three steps back, then three steps forward. The Amidah is said in an inaudible undertone. At its conclusion, the person praying takes three steps back and then three ste...
Summary of The Amidah
- The 19 blessings are divided into three sections: praising G‑d, followed by a number of requests, followed by a few paragraphs of thanks to G‑d. This is how one might summarize the content of the entire Amidah:
Why We Need A Set Liturgy For The Amidah
- Maimonides
Maimonides writes13 that until the destruction of the Holy Temple, everyone prayed in their own words. When the Jews were in exile, however, their language became a mix of a distorted Hebrew and some of the other languages of the regions of their exiles. As a result, they weren’t able to e… - Recreating Sacrifices
The prayers we say take the place of the daily sacrifices brought in the Holy Temple. The Men of the Great Assembly(who composed and compiled the prayers) knew exactly which words and letters to use that would substitute for the sacrifices and bring about the same spiritual effect a…