Afternoon Service

(Heb. Minḥah, i.e., "meal offering"). The daily afternoon prayer service. It replaced the tamid shel bén ha-arbayim (the afternoon offering) which was brought daily in Temple times (see II Kings 16:15). According to the rabbis (Ber. 26b), this Afternoon Service wasinstituted by the patriarch Isaac (cf. Gen. 24:63). The service must be recited, ideally with a prayer quorum (Minyan), no earlier than half an hour after midday (defined as the midpoint between sunrise and sunset) and no later than sunset. The period of time from approximately 2 1/2 hours before sunset until dusk is called Minḥah Ketannah, (the "small" or late Minḥah), while that from half an hour after midday to Minḥah Ketannah is called Minḥah Gedolah (the "great" or early Minḥah). The last half of Minḥah Ketannah is known as Pelag ha-Minḥah and some very observant Jews maintain that it is immediately before this critical point that one should recite the Afternoon Service.

Every Afternoon Service includes Psalm 145 (Ashré), the Amidah, the reader's repetition of the Amidah (which may be abbreviated if time is pressing), and Alénu, with various additions on certain specific days, both in the Amidah and during the service itself. No Shema is said, however, as the time of day is inappropriate (cf. Deut.6:7). Half-Kaddish is recited before the silent Amidah, and the full Kaddish before Alénu, while the latter is followed by the mourners' Kaddish. In the Sephardi ritual, Ashré is preceded by the recitation of korbanot---an account of the various Sacrifices and Offerings that were brought to the Temple.

Generally on weekdays, except those that are special (e.g., the New Year for Trees) or which precede the Sabbath or festive days, the Taḥanun supplications are read after the cantor's repetition of the Amidah.

On Sabbaths and festivals, AshrÉ is followed by U-Va le-Tsiyyon, a series of biblical verses commencing with Isaiah 59:20. On Sabbaths, a Scroll of the Law is taken from the Ark and the first section of the following Sabbath's portion is read (see Reading of the Law). The Torah is also read on fast days and on the Day of Atonement; on the latter occasion, the entire book of Jonah serves as Haftarah. In the Afternoon Service preceding the Day of Atonement, the Al ḥet confession is recited after the silent Amidah.

On the fast of Tishah Be-Av, men wear the prayer shawl (Tallit) and phylacteries (Tefillin) during the Afternoon Service, to make up for the Morning Service when these are not worn. The tallit is also worn on the Day of Atonement.

During the repetition of the Amidah, the reader and congregation chant the Kedushah responsively in the third benediction. On fast days, prior to the last benediction, the reader recites the Priestly Blessing, and in Israel, the priests bless other congregants. For convenience, many synagogues delay the Afternoon Service until late in the day, so as to leave only a short interval between afternoon and evening prayers. On Sabbaths, a se'udah shelishit ("third meal") helps to bridge this gap.

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