Amidah

Amidah, also known as the Shemoneh Esrei or "Eighteen," is the central prayer of Jewish liturgy. It is traditionally recited while standing, with feet together, and facing Jerusalem. The Amidah is prayed both silently by individuals and, in many communities, aloud as a repetitious public prayer led by a cantor during the service.

Historically, the Amidah developed as a fixed sequence of blessings. It is commonly described as 19 blessings in the weekday version (the original form is associated with eighteen). The text is preserved in multiple nusach traditions (such as Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Mizrahi), which differ in wording yet maintain the same overall structure and purpose.

Structure and content sit in three broad parts. The opening section comprises blessings of praise and sanctification, acknowledging God’s sovereignty and mercy. The middle section contains petitions for personal and communal needs, such as healing, forgiveness, wisdom, sustenance, and peace. The closing section includes blessings of gratitude and peace, culminating in expressions of trust in God’s ultimate goodness and restoration.

Practice and variations. The Amidah is a fixed core of daily services in many Jewish communities, recited at Shacharit and Mincha, with an additional evening Amidah in the Arvit service in traditional practice. In many congregations, the silent Amidah is followed by the public repetition (Chazarat HaShatz) by the prayer leader, especially on weekdays; on Shabbat and Festivals, the service includes distinctive insertions and, in some communities, a special Musaf Amidah. Differences among communities reflect liturgical traditions while preserving the Amidah’s fundamental role as a vehicle of praise, petition, and thanksgiving.