Evening Service

(Ma'ariv, "[God] Who brings on the dusk," from the initial benediction recited; or Arvit, also derived from erev, "evening"). Daily prayer service recited after nightfall; traditionally instituted by the patriarch Jacob (on the basis of Gen.28:11). Unlike the other two daily (Morning and Afternoon) services, Ma'ariv does not replace a sacrifice offered in the Temple, since no offerings were brought at night. Though referred to as a reshut or voluntary prayer, in the course of time it came to be recognized as obligatory, the suggestion being that it corresponded to the disposition of leftover parts of the various sacrifices which were burned up during the night in the Temple.

On weekdays, the service begins with Psalms 78:38, 20:10 and Barekhu, followed by two benedictions prior to the Shema (the second being Ahavat Olam) and two other blessings after it, Emet Ve-Emunah and Hashkivenu. Outside Israel, Ashkenazim add a third extended benediction. Originally (and until about the ninth century), this was the end of the Evening Service and no Amidah was recited, because the Amidah prayer was thought equivalent to a Temple sacrifice. However, as worshipers felt the need for an Amidah and its supplications, one was added to the service but read silently, with no repetition by the reader. Services usually conclude with the Alénu prayer, together with the mourner's Kaddish. On Friday night, the eve of Sabbath, services begin with Kabbalat Shabbat and then proceed with Barekhu and the Shema; special prayers are added after the Amidah and the service concludes with Kiddush (in the Diaspora), Alénu, and either the Yigdal hymn or Adon Olam. On Saturday night, Psalms 144 and 67 are chanted at the beginning (except by Ḥasidic Jews) and the service ends with Psalm 91, other biblical verses, and the Havdalah ceremony. Parts of the service (Barekhu and the various recitations of Kaddish) are omitted when there is no prayer quorum (Minyan). On the Pilgrim Festivals, many Ashkenazi congregations in the Diaspora recite special poems known as Ma'Aravot, which are included in the blessings before and after the Shema. On the first night of Passover, in Israel, Hallel is read after the Evening Service; on the eve of the day of atonement, services include an extensive range of liturgical poems after the Amidah.

The earliest time when one may recite the Evening Service is 1 1/4 "variable hours" before sunset, a "variable hour" being defined as one twelfth of the time between sunrise and sunset on that day (see day and night). The Evening Service should take place no later than midnight, the midpoint between sunset and sunrise; if unavoidable, however, it may be recited until dawn. When saying the evening prayers before nightfall, all three paragraphs of the Shema must be repeated after nightfall, that being the earliest time when one may fulfill the obligation to recite the evening Shema. In order to make it easier for people to attend, many congregations arrange the Afternoon Service late in the day, so that only a short time will elapse before the Evening Service begins. A study session often takes place between the two services.

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