Lesson 4 שמנה עשרה The Shemoneh Esrei (Amidah) THE BASICS A Brief Background of the Shemoneh Esrei (Amidah) Then the L-RD spoke to Moses, saying, Command the sons of Israel and say to them, You shall be careful to present My offerings at their appointed time. You shall say to them, This is the offering by fire which you shall offer to the L-RD: two male lambs You shall offer the one lamb in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at dusk It is a continual burnt offering which was ordained in Mount Sinai as a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the L-RD. (Numbers 28:1-6) As for me, I shall call upon G-d Evening and morning and at noon, asichah (I will pray) and cry, and He will hear my voice. (Psalms 55:18[17]) Now when Daniel knew that the document [prohibiting prayer to other G-ds besides King Darius] was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his G-d, as he had been doing previously. (Daniel 6:10) It has been stated: Rabbi Yose son of Rabbi Chaninah said: The Tefillot were instituted by the Patriarchs. Rabbi Yehoshua son of Levi says: The Tefillot 1
were instituted [by the men of the Great Assembly] to replace the daily sacrifices [of the first Temple] It has been taught in accordance with Rabbi Yose son of Rabbi Chaninah: Avraham instituted the morning Tefillah, as it says, And Avraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood [before the L-rd] (Genesis 19:27) and 'standing' means prayer, as it says, Then Pinchas (Phineas) stood up and yifaleil (prayed) (Psalms 106:30). Yitzchak (Isaac) instituted the afternoon Tefillah, as it says, And Yitzchak (Isaac) went out lasuach (to meditate) in the field toward evening (Genesis 24:63), and 'lasuach (to meditate)' means prayer, as it says, A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and pours out sicho (his meditation/complaint) before the L-rd (Psalms 102:1)... (b. Berachot 26b). [I]t has been taught: Shimon HaPakuli formulated eighteen blessings in the presence of Rabban Gamaliel in the proper order [according to biblical texts] in Yavneh Rabbi Yochanan said A hundred and twenty elders, among whom were many prophets, drew up eighteen blessings in a fixed order. (b. Megillah 17a) THE BASICS The Shemoneh Esrei (Amidah) and the Apostolic Writings Whenever you stand praying, forgive (Mark 11:25) Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying [and] the tax collector, standing some distance away... (Luke 18:10-13) [S]ince we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Yeshua the Son of G-d, let us hold fast our confession let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to G-d, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. (Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-15, 13:15) The Amidah is the high point of the complete prayer service. Each time we pray, it is as though we are ascending through the gates and courts of the heavenly Temple. The prayers leading up to the Amidah represent the outer 2
courts; the Amidah itself corresponds to the holy of holies. (Aaron Eby, First Steps in Messianic Jewish Prayer, p. 75) THE BASICS The Structure of the Shemoneh Esrei (Amidah) (ע ש ר ה ש מ ונ ה) vs. Shemoneh Esrei Eighteen (ע מ יד ה) Amidah Standing Weekdays Shabbat and Holidays Praise (3) Praise (3) Petition (13) Holiness of the day (1) Thanks (3) Thanks (3) Introductory Section: Praise of G-d Opening Prayer: Psalms 51:17 1. Avot Patriarchs 2. Gevurot G-d s Might 3. Kedushat Ad-nai G-d s Holiness 3
THE PRAYER The Shemoneh Esrei (Amidah) Part 1 א ד נ י ש פ ת י ת פ ת ח ופ י י ג יד ת ה ל ת ך AD-NAI s'fatai tiftach, ufi yagid t'hilatecha. My Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise. AVOT PATRIARCHS Bend knees on "Baruch", bow on "Atah", and straighten at "AD-NAI". י י א ת ה ב ר ו ך א לה ינ ו ו א לה י א ב ות ינ ו, א לה י א ב ר ה ם, א לה י י צ ח ק, ו א לה י י ע ק ב. ה א ל ה ג ד ול ה ג ב ור ו ה נ ור א, א ל ע ל י ון, ג ומ ל ח ס ד ים ט וב ים, ו ק ונ ה ה כ ל, ו ז וכ ר ח ס ד י א ב ות, ב נ יה ם ל מ ע ן ש מ ו ב א ה ב ה. ומ ב יא ג וא ל ל ב נ י Baruch Atah AD-NAI, Eloheinu, v'elohei avoteinu, Elohei Avraham, Elohei Yitzchak, v'elohei Ya'akov, HaEl HaGadol HaGibor v'hanorah El Elyon, gomeil chasadim tovim v'konei hakol v'zocheir chasdei avot u'meivi goeil livnei v'neihem l'ma'an sh'mo b'ahavah. Abraham, Blessed are You, AD-NAI, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, G-d of ב ר ו ך G-d of Isaac, and G-d of Jacob; the great, mighty, and awesome G-d, the supreme G-d, Who bestows beneficial kindnesses and creates everything, Who recalls the kindnesses of the Patriarchs and brings a Redeemer to their children's children, for His Name's sake, with love. Bend the knees at 'Blessed, bow at 'You ; straighten up at 'ADONAI'. u'magein. Melech ozeir u'moshia מ ל ך ע וז ר ומ וש יע ומ ג ן. ב ר ו ך א ת ה י י, מ ג ן א ב ר ה ם. Baruch Atah AD-NAI, Magein Avraham. O King, Helper, Savior, and Shield. Blessed are You, AD-NAI, Shield of Abraham. א ת ה ג ב ור ל ע ול ם א ד נ י, מ ח י ה מ ת ים א ת ה, GEVUROT G-d S MIGHT ר ב ל ה וש יע. מ כ ל כ ל ח י ים ב ח ס ד, מ ח י ה מ ת ים ב ר ח מ ים ר ב ים, ס ומ ך נ ופ ל ים, ו ר ופ א ח ול ים, ומ ת יר א ס ור ים, ומ ק י ם א מ ונ ת ו ל יש נ י ע פ ר, מ י כ מ ו ך ב ע ל ג ב ור ות ומ י Atah gibor l'olam, AD-NAI m'chaiyei meitim Atah rav l'hoshia, m'chalkeil chayim b'chesed, m'chayei meitim b'rachamim rabim, someich nof'lim v'rofei cholim u'matir asurim u'm'kayeim emunato lisheinei afar, mi chamocha ba'al gevurot u'mi domeh 4
ד ומ ה ל ך, מ ל ך מ מ ית ומ ח י ה ומ צ מ י ח י ש וע ה. ו נ א מ ן א ת ה ל ה ח י ות מ ת ים. ב ר ו ך א ת ה י י, מ ח י ה ה מ ת ים. lach, Melech meimit u'm'chayeh u'matzmiach yeshuah. V'ne'eman Atah l'hachayot meitim. Baruch Atah AD-NAI, m'chayei hameitim. You; You are eternally mighty, my Lord, the Resuscitator of the dead are א ת ה ג ב ור abundantly able to save, Who sustains the living with kindness, resuscitates the dead with abundant mercy, supports the fallen, heals the sick, releases the confined, and maintains His faith to those asleep in the dust. Who is like You, O Master of mighty deeds, and who is comparable to You, O King Who causes death and restores life and makes salvation sprout! And You are faithful to resuscitate the dead. Blessed are You, AD-NAI, Who resuscitates the dead. KEDUSHAT ADONAI G-d S HOLINESS א ת ה ק ד וש ו ש מ ך ק ד וש וק ד וש ים ב כ ל י ום י ה ל ל ו ך, ס ל ה. ב ר ו ך א ת ה ה ק ד וש. י י, ה א ל Atah kadosh, v'shimcha kadosh, uk'doshim b'kol yom y'hal'lucha selah. Baruch Atah AD-NAI, ha El hakadosh. day, You are holy and Your Name is holy, and holy ones praise You every א ת ה ק ד וש forever. Blessed are You, AD-NAI, the holy G-d. 5