Overview

The Amidah (עֲמִידָה, "standing")—also known by the traditional name Shemoneh Esrei (שמונה עשרה, "eighteen") and simply as Tefilah (תפילה, "prayer")—is the central prayer of Jewish liturgy. It is recited while standing, traditionally with feet together and facing Jerusalem, and appears in each of the principal daily prayers of Jewish worship. The prayer is said silently by individuals and, in communal settings, is often followed by an audible repetition led by the prayer leader.

Structure and variations

Although called "eighteen," the weekday Amidah used in most rites contains nineteen blessings. The typical arrangement divides the blessings into three parts: an opening trio of praises, a middle series of petitions, and a closing set of thanksgiving blessings. On Shabbat and major festivals the middle petitions are replaced by a single blessing that sanctifies the day. Additional services—such as Musaf on Sabbaths and festivals, and Ne'ilah on Yom Kippur—use special forms of the Amidah.

  • Opening: praise and invocation.
  • Middle: petitions for needs, repentance, healing, and restoration (varies by day).
  • Closing: thanksgiving and peace.

History and development

The Amidah developed in the rabbinic period as a fixed formula for private and communal prayer after the destruction of the Second Temple. The prayer's shape and wording took form in the Talmudic era, where it is discussed in tractates and referred to as Talmud-era liturgy. Over centuries the text was refined by communities; some medieval additions and local customs account for differences among Ashkenazic, Sephardic and other rites.

Practice and ritual details

Key ritual features include standing in silent concentration, bowing at prescribed points, and stepping back at the conclusion. Traditionally the congregation remains silent during individuals' silent recitation; the prayer leader repeats the Amidah aloud on weekdays so that those who cannot recite it themselves fulfill their obligation. The service schedule usually includes the Amidah at Shacharit (morning), Mincha (afternoon) and Ma'ariv (evening), with extra recitations on special days.

Importance and notable distinctions

The Amidah is central to Jewish spiritual life because it combines praise, petition and thanks in a fixed, ordered form. It functions both as private devotion and as the core of communal prayer. Different communities use variant texts and customs: some emphasize silent devotion, others the communal repetition; some maintain the historical "eighteen" formula in name while reciting nineteen blessings. For more background on liturgical placement and variations see resources on Judaism and communal worship, guidance for Jews practicing the Amidah, and notes on the traditional blessings.

The Amidah remains a living element of Jewish prayer, taught in study, practiced daily, and shaped by centuries of devotion and legal discussion.