The Tefillah, “Prayer” par excellence, is called Amidah (lit.,
“standing”), because the worshipper stands during the time he offers it
up. It is also called Shemoneh-esreh, “Eighteen,” because it contains
on most occasions eighteen (or nineteen, comp. p. 431) paragraphs, each
concluding with a benediction.
The first three paragraphs contain praise of God’s goodness to us, the
descendants of the pious patriarchs (1), His omnipotence (2), and His
holiness (3).
The next thirteen paragraphs are petitions for our individual and
national well-being. For our individual well-being (4–9), namely, for
reason and wisdom (4), assistance in our endeavour to return to God
(5), forgiveness of our sins (6), deliverance from trouble (7), from
illness (8), and from want (9).—For our national well-being (10–15),
namely, for the gathering of those who are scattered (10), under good
leaders (11), protected from the evil designs of our foes (12), for the
support of the faithful (13), the rebuilding of Jerusalem (14), and the
advent of Messiah (15). The sixteenth paragraph is a prayer that our
petition may be accepted.—The last three paragraphs include a petition
for the re-establishment of Divine Service in the Temple of Jerusalem
(17), thanksgiving (18), and prayer for peace and prosperity (19). When
the prayer is finished we express the wish that our lips, from which
prayer to God has come forth, may not be defiled by unworthy language.
On Sabbaths, Holy-days, and in every Musaph the thirteen middle
paragraphs are replaced by one in which reference is made to the
characteristic feature of the day; in the Musaph of New-year three
berachoth (p. 404) are substituted for the thirteen middle berachoth of
the ordinary tefillah. The thirteen paragraphs have been eliminated in
order that we should not be reminded on Sabbath and Holy-days of our
failings, wants, and troubles; that those seasons should be marked by a
happier and more cheerful mood than ordinary days (supra, p. 354).
There are two shorter forms of the tefillah for urgent occasions: the
one is a substitute for the “Eighteen,” in which the middle thirteen
paragraphs are contracted into one; it is called הביננו (the first
word of this middle section), or מעין שמונה עשרה “abstract of the
‘Eighteen.’” The other is a contraction of the Friday evening tefillah,
and is called מעין שבע “abstract of the ‘Seven’” (scil., paragraphs
forming the tefillah), originally intended for those who were too late
for the full Service. [159]
Each of the above Services ends with a prayer called after its initial
word alenu, “It is our duty.” In this prayer we thank God that we have
the privilege of proclaiming His Unity, and express our hope to see the
worship of the One God adopted by all mankind. It is omitted between
two Services following closely the one upon the other.