Discussions on Prayer

The popular prayer of ‘Aleinu’ – the final prayer – conveys the fundamental values of Judaism. Firstly, praise for being a unique people with a unique mission, the unique unity of G-d, and the hope for the time when G-d’s presence will be fully realized in the world.

Following the Amidah and the confessional prayers, we conclude with a number of additional prayers to supplement the service. We recite the prayer of Ashrei again, Psalm 20, the Sanctification of G-d, Song of the Day, and Ein Kelokeinu.

Following the culmination of the Amidah, we proceed to recite the prayers of supplication, which include confession of sins and asking for forgiveness, the “thirteen attributes of mercy”, and “falling on our faces” in submission with verses of supplication.

The final three blessings of the Amidah are centered on the theme of thanksgiving and acknowledgement to G-d. In this lesson we reach the conclusion of the Shemoneh Esrei.

An additional nineteenth blessing – asking G-d to reject those who corrupt our faith – was later inserted into the Amidah (as the 12th blessing). The blessing to uplift the righteous follows, and next are two blessings praying for the coming of Moshiach and redemption. The final intermediate blessing (the 16th) is the culmination of it all—requesting G-d to accept and listen to our prayers.

The intermediary blessings of the Amidah can be divided into two categories, individual requests and communal requests. In this class we examine the ninth to eleventh blessings, which are personal requests for prosperity and livelihood, and then collective requests for redemption.

The middle blessings of the Amidah consist of personal requests for our spiritual and physical needs. In this class we gain insight into the fifth to eighth blessings, which we ask G-d to return us, forgive us, redeem us, and grant us good health.

The third blessing of the Amidah corresponds to Jacob and extolls the awesome sanctity of G-d and His name. In the fourth blessing we ask for knowledge—this is the beginning of the next part of the Amidah, which are requests for our needs.

The second blessing of the Amidah corresponds to Yitzchak—the second patriarch, and focuses on G-d’s attribute of severity and might. We praise the Almighty for His power to grant life and for the resurrection of the dead.

The Amidah prayer begins with three blessings of praise that correspond to the three Patriarchs. The first blessing focuses on the special merit and quality of Abraham.