Amidah (Shemoneh Esrei)
עֲמִידָהThe central standing prayer of every Jewish service.
אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶךָבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּאֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם, אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק, וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא, אֵל עֶלְיוֹןגּוֹמֵל חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים, וְקוֹנֵה הַכֹּל, וְזוֹכֵר חַסְדֵי אָבוֹת, וּמֵבִיא גוֹאֵל לִבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ בְּאַהֲבָהמֶלֶךְ עוֹזֵר וּמוֹשִׁיעַ וּמָגֵן. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מָגֵן אַבְרָהָםאַתָּה גִּבּוֹר לְעוֹלָם אֲדֹנָי, מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים אַתָּה, רַב לְהוֹשִׁיעַמְכַלְכֵּל חַיִּים בְּחֶסֶד, מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים, סוֹמֵךְ נוֹפְלִים, וְרוֹפֵא חוֹלִים, וּמַתִּיר אֲסוּרִיםוּמְקַיֵּם אֱמוּנָתוֹ לִישֵׁנֵי עָפָר. מִי כָמוֹךָ בַּעַל גְּבוּרוֹת וּמִי דּוֹמֶה לָּךְ, מֶלֶךְ מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה וּמַצְמִיחַ יְשׁוּעָהוְנֶאֱמָן אַתָּה לְהַחֲיוֹת מֵתִים. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִיםאַתָּה קָדוֹשׁ וְשִׁמְךָ קָדוֹשׁ, וּקְדוֹשִׁים בְּכָל יוֹם יְהַלְלוּךָ סֶּלָה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הָאֵל הַקָּדוֹשׁאַתָּה חוֹנֵן לְאָדָם דַּעַת וּמְלַמֵּד לֶאֱנוֹשׁ בִּינָה. חָנֵּנוּ מֵאִתְּךָ דֵּעָה בִּינָה וְהַשְׂכֵּל. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, חוֹנֵן הַדָּעַתהֲשִׁיבֵנוּ אָבִינוּ לְתוֹרָתֶךָ, וְקָרְבֵנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ, וְהַחֲזִירֵנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הָרוֹצֶה בִּתְשׁוּבָהסְלַח לָנוּ אָבִינוּ כִּי חָטָאנוּ, מְחַל לָנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ כִּי פָשָׁעְנוּ, כִּי מוֹחֵל וְסוֹלֵחַ אָתָּה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, חַנּוּן הַמַּרְבֶּה לִסְלֹחַרְאֵה בְעָנְיֵנוּ וְרִיבָה רִיבֵנוּ, וּגְאָלֵנוּ מְהֵרָה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵלרְפָאֵנוּ יְיָ וְנֵרָפֵא, הוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְנִוָּשֵׁעָה, כִּי תְהִלָּתֵנוּ אָתָּה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, רוֹפֵא חוֹלֵי עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵלבָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶת הַשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת וְאֶת כָּל מִינֵי תְבוּאָתָהּ לְטוֹבָה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִיםתְּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל לְחֵרוּתֵנוּ, וְשָׂא נֵס לְקַבֵּץ גָּלֻיּוֹתֵינוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְקַבֵּץ נִדְחֵי עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵלהָשִׁיבָה שׁוֹפְטֵינוּ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה וְיוֹעֲצֵינוּ כְּבַתְּחִלָּה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מֶלֶךְ אוֹהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּטוְלַמַּלְשִׁינִים אַל תְּהִי תִקְוָה, וְכָל הָרִשְׁעָה כְּרֶגַע תֹּאבֵד. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, שׁוֹבֵר אוֹיְבִים וּמַכְנִיעַ זֵדִיםעַל הַצַּדִּיקִים וְעַל הַחֲסִידִים וְעַל זִקְנֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל יֶהֱמוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מִשְׁעָן וּמִבְטָח לַצַּדִּיקִיםוְלִירוּשָׁלַיִם עִירְךָ בְּרַחֲמִים תָּשׁוּב וְתִשְׁכּוֹן בְּתוֹכָהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלָיִםאֶת צֶמַח דָּוִד עַבְדְּךָ מְהֵרָה תַצְמִיחַ, כִּי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ קִוִּינוּ כָּל הַיּוֹם. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מַצְמִיחַ קֶרֶן יְשׁוּעָהשְׁמַע קוֹלֵנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, חוּס וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ, וְקַבֵּל בְּרַחֲמִים וּבְרָצוֹן אֶת תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּהרְצֵה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִתְפִלָּתָם. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַמַּחֲזִיר שְׁכִינָתוֹ לְצִיּוֹןמוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ שָׁאַתָּה הוּא יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, צוּר חַיֵּינוּ מָגֵן יִשְׁעֵנוּ אַתָּה הוּא לְדוֹר וָדוֹרוְכֹל הַחַיִּים יוֹדוּךָ סֶּלָה וִיהַלְלוּ אֶת שִׁמְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַטּוֹב שִׁמְךָ וּלְךָ נָאֶה לְהוֹדוֹתשִׂים שָׁלוֹם טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה, חֵן וָחֶסֶד וְרַחֲמִים, עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַמְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּשָּׁלוֹםעֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
Adonai sefatai tiftach, ufi yagid tehilatekha Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu ve'Elohei avoteinu Elohei Avraham, Elohei Yitzchak, ve'Elohei Yaakov, ha'El hagadol hagibor vehanora, El elyon Gomel chasadim tovim, vekoneh hakol, vezokher chasdei avot, umevi go'el livnei veneihem lema'an shemo be'ahavah Melekh ozer umoshia umagen. Barukh atah Adonai, magen Avraham Atah gibor le'olam Adonai, mechayeh metim atah, rav lehoshia Mekhalkel chayim bechesed, mechayeh metim berachamim rabim, somekh noflim, verofei cholim, umatir asurim Umkayem emunato lisheinei afar. Mi khamokha ba'al gevurot umi domeh lakh, melekh memit umchayeh umatzmiach yeshu'ah Vene'eman atah lehachayot metim. Barukh atah Adonai, mechayeh hametim Atah kadosh veshimkha kadosh, ukdoshim bekhol yom yehalelukha selah. Barukh atah Adonai, ha'El hakadosh Atah chonen le'adam da'at umlamed le'enosh binah. Chonenu me'itekha de'ah binah vehaskel. Barukh atah Adonai, chonen hada'at Hashivenu Avinu letoratekha, vekarvenu Malkenu la'avodatekha, vehachazirenu bitshuvah shelemah lefanekha. Barukh atah Adonai, harotzeh bitshuvah Selach lanu Avinu ki chatanu, mechal lanu Malkenu ki fasha'nu, ki mochel vesole'ach atah. Barukh atah Adonai, chanun hamarbeh lisloach Re'eh ve'onyenu verivah rivenu, ug'alenu meherah lema'an shemekha. Barukh atah Adonai, go'el Yisrael Refa'enu Adonai venerafei, hoshi'enu venivashe'ah, ki tehilatenu atah. Barukh atah Adonai, rofei cholei amo Yisrael Barekh aleinu Adonai Eloheinu et hashanah hazot ve'et kol minei tevu'atah letovah. Barukh atah Adonai, mevarekh hashanim Teka beshofar gadol lecheruteinu, vesa nes lekabetz galuyoteinu. Barukh atah Adonai, mekabetz nidchei amo Yisrael Hashivah shofteinu kevarishonah veyo'atzeinu kevatechilah. Barukh atah Adonai, melekh ohev tzedakah umishpat Velamalshinim al tehi tikvah, vekhol harish'ah kerega toved. Barukh atah Adonai, shover oyevim umakhnia zedim Al hatzadikim ve'al hachasidim ve'al ziknei amekha beit Yisrael yehemu rachamekha. Barukh atah Adonai, mish'an umivtach latzadikim Velirushalayim irekha berachamim tashuv vetishkon betokhah ka'asher dibarta. Barukh atah Adonai, boneh Yerushalayim Et tzemach David avdekha meherah tatzmiach, ki lishu'atekha kivinu kol hayom. Barukh atah Adonai, matzmiach keren yeshu'ah Shema kolenu Adonai Eloheinu, chus verachem aleinu, vekabel berachamim uvratzon et tefilatenu. Barukh atah Adonai, shome'a tefilah Retzeh Adonai Eloheinu be'amekha Yisrael uvitfilatam. Barukh atah Adonai, hamachazir shekhinato leTziyon Modim anachnu lakh sha'atah hu Adonai Eloheinu ve'Elohei avoteinu le'olam va'ed, tzur chayeinu magen yish'enu atah hu ledor vador Vekhol hachayim yodukha selah vihalelu et shimkha be'emet. Barukh atah Adonai, hatov shimkha ulkha na'eh lehodot Sim shalom tovah uvrakhah, chen vachesed verachamim, aleinu ve'al kol Yisrael amekha. Barukh atah Adonai, hamvarekh et amo Yisrael bashalom Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu ve'al kol Yisrael, ve'imru amen
Adonai, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise. Blessed are You, Adonai, our God and God of our ancestors. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob — the great, mighty and awesome God, God most high. Who bestows lovingkindness, creates all, remembers the kindness of the ancestors, and lovingly brings redemption to their children's children for the sake of the Name. King, Helper, Savior and Shield. Blessed are You, Adonai, Shield of Abraham. You are eternally mighty, Adonai; You give life to the dead, great is Your saving power. Sustaining the living with kindness, giving life to the dead with great mercy, supporting the fallen, healing the sick, freeing the captive. And keeping faith with those who sleep in the dust. Who is like You, Master of might, and who compares to You — Sovereign who brings death and life and causes salvation to flourish. And You are faithful to give life to the dead. Blessed are You, Adonai, who gives life to the dead. You are holy and Your name is holy, and holy ones praise You every day. Blessed are You, Adonai, the holy God. You grace humanity with knowledge and teach understanding. Grace us with knowledge, understanding and insight. Blessed are You, Adonai, who graces us with knowledge. Return us, our Father, to Your Torah; draw us near, our King, to Your service; bring us back in complete return before You. Blessed are You, Adonai, who desires return. Forgive us, our Father, for we have erred; pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed, for You pardon and forgive. Blessed are You, Adonai, gracious and abundantly forgiving. See our affliction, take up our cause, and redeem us swiftly for Your name's sake. Blessed are You, Adonai, Redeemer of Israel. Heal us, Adonai, and we will be healed; save us and we will be saved, for You are our praise. Blessed are You, Adonai, Healer of the sick of Your people Israel. Bless this year for us, Adonai our God, and all its kinds of produce, for good. Blessed are You, Adonai, who blesses the years. Sound the great shofar for our freedom, raise a banner to gather our exiles. Blessed are You, Adonai, who gathers the dispersed of Israel. Restore our judges as at first and our counselors as at the beginning. Blessed are You, Adonai, Sovereign who loves righteousness and justice. Let slander have no hope, and let all wickedness vanish in an instant. Blessed are You, Adonai, who breaks enemies and humbles the arrogant. Upon the righteous, the devoted, and the elders of Your people the house of Israel, may Your mercy be stirred. Blessed are You, Adonai, support and security of the righteous. Return in mercy to Jerusalem Your city and dwell within it as You promised. Blessed are You, Adonai, Builder of Jerusalem. Cause the offspring of David Your servant to flourish soon, for we hope for Your salvation all day. Blessed are You, Adonai, who causes salvation to flourish. Hear our voice, Adonai our God; have compassion on us, and receive our prayer with mercy and favor. Blessed are You, Adonai, who hears prayer. Be pleased, Adonai our God, with Your people Israel and their prayer. Blessed are You, Adonai, who returns the Divine Presence to Zion. We give thanks to You, for You are Adonai our God and God of our ancestors forever — Rock of our life, Shield of our salvation in every generation. All the living will thank You and praise Your name in truth. Blessed are You, Adonai — Your name is Goodness, and to You it is fitting to give thanks. Grant peace, goodness and blessing, grace, kindness and mercy to us and to all Israel Your people. Blessed are You, Adonai, who blesses His people Israel with peace. May the One who makes peace in the heights make peace for us and for all Israel; and say: Amen.
The Amidah is recited standing, quietly, at every prayer service. On weekdays it contains nineteen blessings; on Shabbat and festivals, seven. It opens by recalling the ancestors and closes with a prayer for peace. Below is its opening blessing.
Variation: Many communities add the matriarchs (Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah) to the opening blessing; others keep the traditional wording naming only the patriarchs.
Practice saying it aloud
Optional — read the line out loud and see how close you get.
אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶךָ
Quick check
How is the Amidah traditionally recited?
How many blessings does the weekday Amidah contain?
"Avoteinu" means: