Shemoneh Esrei

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Pronunciations

Shemoneh Esrei (SHMOH-nehs-rey) listen
Shemonah Esrei (SHMOH-nah ESS-rey) listen

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Definitions

  • n. Another name for the Amida, the central prayer during Jewish services.

Example Sentences

  • "After Shemoneh Esreh, we will be davening Kaddish Shalem on page 244."

  • "The afternoon service has three parts: Shmoneh Esre, Ashrei, and Aleynu."

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish

Etymology

  • TH שמונה עשרה, lit. 'eighteen (the number of blessings the prayer originally had)' > Y שמונה־עשׂרה shimenésre/shmoyne-ésre

      • Who Uses This

      • Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education

      Regions

      • North America
      • Australia / New Zealand
      • Great Britain
      • South Africa

      Dictionaries

      • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).
      • The Joys of Hebrew, by Lewis Glinert (New York, 1992).
      • Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).

      Alternative Spellings

      Shemone Esray, Shemoneh Esrai, Sh'moneh Esreh, Shmoneh Esre, Shemoneh Esreh, Shmone Esre, Shemone Esrei

Notes

  • This term is more popular among Orthodox Jews; non-Orthodox Jews are more likely to say "Amidah".

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