Opening of The Amida: The Standing Prayer
Read this prayer below, or listen to this youtube audio. Courtesy of: Beit Hallel Congregation in Roswell, GA.
The Amida (meaning: 'standing') prayer represents the pinnacle of the Jewish congregational prayer service. The Amida is also called the 'Shemoneh Esreh,' meaning eighteen, because originally this prayer consisted of eighteen blessings. Its origins trace back to the Second Temple period, where an early form was recited by members of the Ma'amad—groups of laymen who accompanied their local rotation of priests serving in the Temple on a 24-week cycle. This practice is considered one of the earliest models of congregational prayer.
The Amida prayer is generally structured in three parts: the opening blessings are expressions of praise, the middle section contains requests, and the final blessings focus on gratitude and thanksgiving.
These lines below are the first few verses opening the Amida prayer.
Transliteration of Amida:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu v’Elohei avoteinu,
Elohei Avraham, Elohei Yitzchak, v’Elohei Ya’akov,
HaEl hagadol hagibor v’hanora, El Elyon,
Gomel chasadim tovim, v’koneh hakol,
V’zocher chasdei avot,
U’meivi go’el livnei v’neihem lema’an shemo b’ahavah.
Melech ozer u’moshia u’magen.
Baruch Atah Adonai, magen Avraham.
Atah gibor l’olam Adonai,
Mechayei meitim Atah, rav lehoshia.
Amida Prayer in Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה‘ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ
אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב
הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא אֵל עֶלְיוֹן
גּוֹמֵל חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים וְקוֹנֵה הַכֹּל
וְזוֹכֵר חַסְדֵי אָבוֹת
וּמֵבִיא גוֹאֵל לִבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם לְמַֽעַן שְׁמוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה
מֶֽלֶךְ עוֹזֵר וּמוֹשִֽׁיעַ וּמָגֵן
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם
אַתָּה גִבּוֹר לְעוֹלָם אֲדֹנָי
מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים אַתָּה רַב לְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ
Translation of Amida (Standing Prayer):
Blessed are You, Lord 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 lovingkindnesses,
creates all things, and remembers the kindnesses of the patriarchs,
and brings a redeemer to their children's children
for the sake of His name, in love.
King, Helper, Savior, and Shield.
Blessed are You, Lord, Shield of Abraham.
You are mighty forever, O Lord.
You revive the dead; You are greatly able to save.
