Although we constantly enjoy the blessings of God, the very breath we
breathe being the gift of our Heavenly Father, yet certain seasons of
the day, of the week, of the month, and of the year have been selected
as especially fit for reminding us of God’s kindness, and predisposing
our heart to devotion. Thus in the day, morning, noon and evening have
been fixed for prayer; in the week, Sabbath; in the month, New-moon; in
the year, the Festivals.
We have three daily Services: Maaribh, “Evening prayer;” Shacharith,
“Morning prayer,” [156] and Minchah, “Afternoon prayer.” On Sabbath,
New-moon, and Festivals an “Additional prayer,” Musaf, is inserted
between the Morning and the Afternoon Services, and on the Day of
Atonement, Neïlah, “Concluding Service,” is added after Minchah.
The two most essential elements in these Services are: (1) the Reading
of Shema (קריאת שמע), in the Maaribh and the Shacharith; (2) the
Tefillah or Amidah, common to all the Services.