The Shemoneh Esrei Prayer: The Heart of Jewish Prayer

The Shemoneh Esrei (also called the Amidah) is the most important prayer we say every weekday. It's recited during Shacharit (morning prayers), Mincha (afternoon prayers), and Ma'ariv (evening prayers).

When we say the Shemoneh Esrei, we stand with our feet together, quietly whispering the words. We do this to resemble the angels, who the Torah describes as having "straight feet." It's called "Shemoneh Esrei," which means "eighteen," because originally the prayer had 18 blessings.

Today, it actually has 19 blessings, which are divided into three sections: praise, requests, and thanks.

The blessings are said in plural, speaking for all of the Jewish people together, not just for ourselves.

In Shacharit and Mincha, after we say the Amidah quietly, the prayer leader (the chazzan) repeats it out loud. On Shabbat and holidays, the Shemoneh Esrei is shorter — only seven blessings, because the day is already full of holiness and we focus more on praising Hashem.

Why Was the Shemoneh Esrei Created?

The Rambam explains:
When the Jewish people were scattered across the world after the destruction caused by Nebuchadnezzar, many forgot how to speak Hebrew properly.
They would mix languages and couldn’t express themselves well in prayer.
So Ezra the Scribe and his court wrote the Shemoneh Esrei — clear, beautiful prayers that everyone could learn and say properly.

The Talmud tells us that Shimon HaPakoli arranged the 18 blessings in their specific order under the guidance of Rabbi Gamliel.

There are several reasons for the number 18:
It corresponds to the 18 bones in the human spine and matches the 18 times Hashem’s name is mentioned in the Shema and certain Psalms.

Later, one more blessing was added against the "minim" — heretics and troublemakers — who tried to harm the Jewish community from within.
This blessing was written to protect the Jewish people and helped separate faithful Jews from those who were pulling away from Torah and causing confusion.

A Quick Summary of the Shemoneh Esrei Structure

Praise (Opening):
Blessing of the Forefathers (Avot), Blessing of God's Might (Gevurot), Blessing of God's Holiness (Kedushat Hashem)

Requests (Middle):
Blessings for Knowledge, Repentance, Forgiveness, Redemption, Healing, Prosperity, Gathering of Exiles, Justice, Against Heretics, Support for the Righteous, Rebuilding Jerusalem, Salvation, and Personal Prayers.

Thanks (Closing):
Blessing for Worship, Gratitude, and Peace.

The Shemoneh Esrei connects us straight to Hashem, like a private conversation.
It’s the moment where we stand before Him with love, humility, and hope.

If you ever feel overwhelmed, just remember:
It’s not about saying it perfectly — it’s about opening your heart.