The 5-Minute Morning
Modeh Ani → washing the hands → Asher Yatzar → the Torah blessings → the Shema. Every word on one page, in Hebrew, transliteration and English.
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד
Say itShema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
Devarim 6:4 · Primary SourceMorning, afternoon, evening
Three prayers a day, from our Avot (Berachot 26b). Begin with one.
Mincha — the afternoon prayer
What: Ashrei (Tehillim 145), the Amidah, and Aleinu — about ten minutes.
When: from half an hour after midday until sunset.
Why it matters: The Sages taught that Yitzchak instituted Mincha, as Avraham instituted the morning prayer and Yaakov the evening one. And “a person should always be careful with Mincha” — it comes in the middle of a busy day, which is exactly its power.
Maariv — the evening prayer
What: Barchu (with a minyan), the Shema with two blessings before and two after, and the Amidah.
When: after nightfall. The Shema of the evening is said at night (“when you lie down” — Devarim 6:7).
Why it matters: The Talmud calls the evening prayer optional, but the Jewish people accepted it as a fixed obligation. Women traditionally did not take Maariv on as an obligation; many say the Shema at night.
Learn it. Understand it. Pray it.
Kaddish
Kaddish praises Hashem’s name: “May His great name be exalted and sanctified.” It is said only with a minyan of ten, because sanctifying Hashem’s name is done in a community. Mourners say Kaddish for a parent; the congregation’s answer — Amen, yehei shmei rabba mevarach — “Amen, may His great name be blessed” — is the heart of it.
Where Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Chabad practice differ, each prayer shows it under “Customs differ,” with the source — and your prayer setting chooses your own.
From Friday night to Saturday night
You don’t have to know the entire service to walk into a synagogue. What happens when I arrive? →
- Kabbalat ShabbatPsalms and Lecha Dodi — welcoming Shabbat like a bride. Lecha Dodi was written by Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz in 16th-century Safed.
- MaarivThe Shabbat evening prayer, with Vayechulu.
- KiddushOver wine at home, after candle-lighting and shul — the Kiddush guide →
- ShacharitThe morning service with the Shabbat Amidah of seven blessings.
- Torah readingThe week’s portion is read from the Torah scroll (Bava Kamma 82a).
- MusafThe additional prayer, for the additional Shabbat offering (Bamidbar 28:9–10).
- MinchaWith a short Torah reading from next week’s portion.
- Seudah ShlishitThe third Shabbat meal (Shabbat 117b).
- MaarivThe weekday evening prayer, with Atah Chonantanu.
- HavdalahWine, spices and a flame — the Havdalah guide →
Today’s prayers and customs
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Words for the moments that matter
Jewish prayer is not magic. It does not guarantee an outcome. It is turning toward Hashem — with praise, gratitude, request, repentance and trust. Hashem hears every prayer; the answer is His.
Understanding prayer
Why do Jews pray?
The Torah commands “to serve Him with all your heart” — and the Sages ask: what is service of the heart? It is prayer. The Rambam counts daily prayer as a positive commandment of the Torah.
What is kavvanah?
Kavvanah is intention — knowing that you stand before Hashem and meaning the words. The Talmud learns many laws of prayer from Chana, who “spoke in her heart; only her lips moved.” The Shulchan Aruch asks for intention throughout, and above all in the first blessing of the Amidah.
Why face Jerusalem?
Shlomo prayed that Israel would turn toward the Land, the city and the Temple. The Talmud rules: outside the Land, face the Land of Israel; in the Land, face Jerusalem; in Jerusalem, face the Temple Mount.
What does the Amidah mean?
Its blessings were arranged by the Men of the Great Assembly — including prophets — and set in order by Shimon HaPakuli at Yavneh. It moves from praise, to requests, to thanks: the way a servant speaks before a king.
Jewish practice varies among communities and traditions. Where meaningful differences exist, we identify them rather than presenting one custom as universal. This material is provided for Jewish educational and informational purposes. It presents traditional Jewish sources and practices and is not a substitute for individualized rabbinic guidance.
