Amidahs

The Amidah, also known as the Shmoneh Esrei or “the standing prayer,” is the central formal prayer of the Jewish daily liturgy. It is traditionally recited standing, often in a quiet, focused manner, and facing toward Jerusalem. In synagogue services, individuals recite it privately while the congregational obligation is fulfilled when the prayer leader repeats the Amidah aloud for the assembly.

The Amidah consists of a fixed sequence of blessings. It opens with three blessings of praise, followed by a series of petitions that request various forms of divine aid, and concludes with three blessings of thanksgiving. The overall structure is commonly described as praise, petitions, and gratitude. Although it is traditionally called the “eighteen blessings,” a nineteenth blessing was added in later tradition, and the weekday Amidah is now typically 19 blessings in most communities. The text is in Hebrew, though many siddurim include translations and transliterations for study and personal reflection.

Practices and variations: The weekday Amidah includes personal supplications written for health, peace, forgiveness, and daily needs. On Shabbat and Jewish festivals, several petitions are omitted or altered to reflect sanctity and peace, and additional liturgical insertions and a Musaf service accompany the main Amidah. In communal settings, the silent Amidah recited by each worshiper is often followed by the repetition of the Amidah by the cantor, during which the congregation answers “amen.”

Origins and usage: The Amidah developed in Rabbinic Judaism, becoming the core of daily prayer. Its form and language are preserved in medieval and modern prayer books, and it remains a focal point of Jewish worship across denominations.