The Amidah

Q: What is the meaning of the Amidah and why is it repeated?

A: The word Amidah means “standing.”  Naturally is the prayer that we were site only one we are upright. This prayer has several other names, the silent prayer, the standing prayer and the shmoneh esray.  The name by which the rabbis referred to it was the Tefilah, or “The Prayer” indicating its meaningful stature in the service.

In the rest of our daily or ship is of lesser importance, with the exception of the Shma.  The reason for having al the other tefilot is to act as a bridge and build-up toward that climactic moment when we reach these seminal prayers.  During the Amidah we speak directly to God.  The level of concentration is maintained for this service as we address our Father in Heaven.

The reason that we repeat the Amidah is so that those who are unable to fill this important mitzvah of the silent devotional can participate in the Reader’s repetition. We go over the Amidah so that everyone can join in the process of speaking with God in the holy tongue, Hebrew.