Study Sheet – Prayer (Tefillah)

1. The Three Daily Services

Judaism prescribes three daily prayers, each associated with a patriarch and a Temple sacrifice:

• Shacharit (morning) – Abraham – corresponds to the morning tamid sacrifice.
• Minchah (afternoon) – Isaac – corresponds to the afternoon tamid sacrifice.
• Ma'ariv / Arvit (evening) – Jacob – corresponds to the overnight burning of fats on the altar.

In addition, Musaf (supplementary) is recited on Shabbat, festivals, and Rosh Chodesh, corresponding to the additional sacrifice (korban musaf). The five prayers of Yom Kippur are: Kol Nidrei/Arvit, Shacharit, Musaf, Minchah, and Ne'ilah (closing prayer).

2. Berakhot (Blessings)

A berakhah begins with "Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha'Olam." The Talmud teaches that a Jew should recite 100 berakhot per day.

Three categories:

1. Birkhot hanehenin – for things one enjoys (food, fragrances).
2. Birkhot hamitzvot – before performing a mitzvah (formula: "asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu...").
3. Birkhot hoda'ah – praise and thanksgiving.

Hierarchy of berakhot: "shehakol" is the most general and fulfills the obligation retroactively for any food. "Ha'adamah" on a tree fruit — valid. "Ha'etz" on a vegetable — not valid.

Special blessings:

• Thunder → Shekocho ugvurato malei olam
• Lightning / natural wonder → Oseh ma'aseh bereshit
• Joyful novelty → Shehecheyanu
• Bad news → Dayan Ha'Emet
• Travel → Tefilat HaDerekh
• Surviving danger (travel, illness, prison) → HaGomel

Additions to Birkat Hamazon: Shabbat → Retzeh. Festivals / Rosh Chodesh → Ya'aleh veYavo. Hanukkah / Purim → Al HaNissim.

3. The Shema Yisrael

The Shema is not a prayer but a declaration of faith (keriat Shema). It is recited twice daily (Shacharit and Ma'ariv) and before sleep (Keriat Shema al hamitah).

Three paragraphs:

1. "Shema Yisrael... Ve'ahavta" (Devarim 6:4-9) – God's oneness, love of God.
2. "Vehayah im shamo'a" (Devarim 11:13-21) – reward and punishment, mitzvot.
3. "Vayomer" (Bamidbar 15:37-41) – tzitzit, remembrance of the Exodus.

One covers the eyes with the right hand during the first verse to enhance concentration (kavvanah) while accepting the yoke of divine sovereignty (kabbalat ol malkhut shamayim).

"Barukh Shem kevod malkhuto le'olam va'ed" is recited silently (attributed to the angels, brought by Moses), except on Yom Kippur when it is said aloud because "on that day Jews are like angels."

In the morning, the Shema must be recited before the end of the third halakhic hour.

4. The Amidah (Shemoneh Esreh)

The Amidah (from "to stand") is the central prayer, recited standing, feet together, facing Jerusalem, three times a day. Also called Shemoneh Esreh (eighteen — a 19th blessing was added later) or "haTefillah."

On weekdays: 19 blessings in three groups:

1. Three blessings of praise (Avot, Gevurot, Kedushat Hashem).
2. Thirteen blessings of petition (wisdom, repentance, forgiveness, deliverance, healing, prosperity, etc.).
3. Three blessings of thanksgiving (divine service, gratitude, peace).

On Shabbat and festivals: the 13 petitions are replaced by a single central blessing → 7 blessings total.

Three steps forward before the Amidah: one "enters" the sacred space before God. Three steps back at the end: one takes leave respectfully, like a servant before a king.

If one forgets an insertion (e.g., Ya'aleh veYavo on Rosh Chodesh), catch-up rules vary by timing. After the three steps back, one must restart the entire Amidah.

The repetition of the Amidah (chazarat hashatz) by the cantor fulfills the obligation for those who cannot pray on their own. During the repetition: Kedushah (3rd blessing) and Birkat Kohanim. The congregation responds "Amen" to each blessing. No repetition at Ma'ariv (originally optional).

5. Structure of the Services

6. The Minyan

A minyan is a quorum of 10 adult Jewish men (from age 13) required for public prayer. Without a minyan: no Kedushah, Kaddish, Torah reading, Birkat Kohanim, or repetition of the Amidah.

The number ten derives from the "ten spies" (Bamidbar 14:27) or Abraham's "ten righteous" (Bereshit 18:32).

If the minyan breaks during the Amidah, whoever started may finish. Principle: "hotchilu beheter, gomrin" (what began with permission may be completed).

Women count toward the minyan in Reform and Conservative movements, but not in Orthodox Judaism.

Women have a reduced prayer obligation (exempt from time-bound mitzvot), but many decisors hold they must pray at least once daily.

7. Kaddish

The Kaddish is a prayer sanctifying God's Name, primarily in Aramaic. Several versions:

• Chatzi Kaddish (half-Kaddish): transitions within the service.
• Kaddish Shalem (full).
• Kaddish deRabbanan: after Torah study.
• Kaddish Yatom: for mourners.

Central congregational response: "Yehei shmeih rabba mevarakh le'alam ul'almei almaya."

A mourner recites Kaddish for eleven months (not twelve, so as not to presume the parent deserves maximum judgment). It is also recited each yahrzeit.

Kaddish requires a minyan. Originally a prayer recited after a Torah teaching; its association with mourning developed in the Middle Ages.

8. Aliyah and Torah Reading

An aliyah (ascent) is the honor of being called to the Torah to recite the blessings framing the reading.

Number of aliyot by day:

First aliyah: a Kohen. Second: a Levi. Subsequent: a Yisrael.

The ba'al koreh is the professional reader who reads aloud for everyone, instituted when Hebrew literacy declined.

Mi Sheberakh: a prayer recited after each aliyah, blessing the person called. The Mi Sheberakh for the sick mentions the Hebrew name of the patient (son/daughter of his/her mother).

9. The Haftarah

The haftarah is a passage from the Nevi'im (Prophets) read after the Torah on Shabbat and festivals, thematically linked to the parashah. It is attributed to the era of Seleucid persecutions (when Torah reading was forbidden).

The maftir recites one blessing before and four blessings after the haftarah.

Special haftarot replacing the regular one:

• Three Shabbatot before Tisha B'Av: Tlata dePuranuta (rebuke)
• Seven Shabbatot after Tisha B'Av: Sheva deNechemta (consolation, from Isaiah)
• Special Shabbatot: HaGadol, Shuvah, Shekalim, Zakhor, Parah, HaChodesh

10. The Siddur and the Machzor

The Siddur (from "seder," order) contains the daily and Shabbat liturgy. The earliest known siddur is that of Rav Amram Gaon (9th century, Babylonia).

The Machzor (from "cycle") is the prayer book for festivals (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot), containing the piyyutim (liturgical poems) specific to each holiday.

Major rite differences: Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Nusach Ari (Lurianic / Hasidim), Yemenite rite.

The most well-known piyyutim: Adon Olam, Yigdal, and works by great paytanim (Eleazar haKalir, Ibn Gabirol, Yehudah haLevi).

Key Takeaways – Summary