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tefilla

Judaism
Also known as: shemone ʿesre

Quick Summary

In Judaism, tefillah refers to prayer, a central practice in Jewish life. The traditional pattern of synagogue worship includes public readings from the Torah and prophetic writings, incorporated into ceremonies that involve removing the Torah scroll from the ark. The core of the morning service includes preparatory prayers, Psalms, the Shema (a confession of faith), and the tefillah itself, often called the Amidah or shemoneh esreh ("Eighteen Benedictions"). This prayer sequence typically includes praises, petitions for knowledge, well-being, forgiveness, and thanksgiving, concluding with prayers for peace. The Shema, derived from Deuteronomy 6:4, is a daily recitation affirming the oneness of God. Prayer books, known as siddurim, contain the liturgy for daily, Sabbath, and holiday services, reflecting Jewish religious history.1234

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