Amidah

The Amidah ("Standing"), also called the Shemoneh Esreh ("The Eighteen"), is the central prayer in the Jewish liturgy that observant Jews recite each morning, afternoon and evening. It is also part of the additional (Musaf) service, which is held after the morning Torah reading every Shabbat and on Biblical holidays.

Related Topics:
Prayer - Jewish liturgy - Musaf - Torah - Shabbat

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As the prayer par excellence, it is sometimes designated as simply "Tefillah" (prayer) and consists of a series of blessings, originally 18 in number for daily worship, hence "Shemoneh Esreh." The name "'Amidah," comes from the fact that the worshiper is commanded to recite it standing. In public worship, the Shemoneh Esreh is first prayed silently by the congregation. If a minyan is present, it is then repeated by the reader aloud, except during the evening service.

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The first three blessings and the last three constitute, so to speak, the permanent stock, used at every service; while the middle group varies on Shabbat, New Moons, and holy days from the formula for week-days.

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