Major prayer (also know as shemoneh esreh) in the Jewish liturgy, originally consisting of 18 BENEDICTIONS (a 19th was added later). Traditionally they were decreed by the men of the GREAT ASSEMBLY; others were added after the destruction of the Second TEMPLE. In the worship service (excluding the EVENING SERVICE) they are recited by the congregation and then repeated by the leader. On the SABBATH and FESTIVALS the number of benedictions recited is far smaller. The full version consists of the following prayers: III. First blessings. Praise: 1. commemoration of ABRAHAM, ISAAC and JACOB; 2. mightiness of God in nature; 3. sanctification. III. Intermediate blessings. Prayers for: 4. understanding; 5. penitence; 6. forgiveness; 7. redemption; 8. healing; 9. blessing of the harvest; 10. ingathering of the EXILES; 11. restoration of the judges; 12. destruction of the sectarians; 13. reward for the righteous; 14. rebuilding JERUSALEM; 15. restoring the kingdom of DAVID. III. Last blessings. Praise and thanks-giving: 16. acceptance of prayer; 17. restoration of the Temple; 18. thanksgiving; 19. blessing of PRIESTS, prayer for peace.
Reprinted
with permission from A
Concise Encyclopedia of Judaism,
by Dan Cohn-Sherbok. Oneworld Publications