(sing. ma'aravit). A series of liturgical poems (Piyyutim) added to the Evening Service (ma'ariv). The ma'aravot correspond to the Yotserot recited in the morning. The ma'aravot are meant to embellish the evening services of festivals and special Sabbaths. The form was created in Erets Israel but spread primarily among the poets (paytanim) of France and Germany. Each series consists of six poems, which are recited before the four blessings (two before and two after the recital of the Shema) and before the two verses of Mi-Khamokhah ("Who Is Like You?") and Adonai Yimlokh ("The Lord Will Reign"). A ma'aravit consists of six stanzas, each four lines in length, based on simple alphabetic Acrostics together with verses setting the framework and biblical openings. The third section is longer than the others; this piyyut is independent and sometimes contains an acrostic of the entire alphabet. The subjects relate to the individual festivals, and each section ends with an allusion to the blessing that is to follow. Originally, these piyyutim were meant to replace the standard text of the prayers, but in the course of time they were added to it instead. In Germany, the piyyutim were written at the outset to be incorporated into the existing text.
The German paytanim added a seventh section (First Fruits), which is added after the sixth, and leads into the blessing before the Amidah prayer.
