Shacharit

Shacharit [ʃaχaˈʁit] (Hebrew: שַחֲרִית šaḥăriṯ), or Shacharis in Ashkenazi Hebrew, is the daily morning Tefillah (prayer) of the Jewish people, one of the three times there is prayer each day.

Different traditions identify different primary components of Shacharit. All agree that Pesukei dezimra, the Shema and its blessings, and the Amidah are major sections. Some identify the preliminary blessings and readings, as a first, distinct section. Others say that Tachanun is a separate section, as well as the concluding blessings. On certain days, there are additional prayers and services added to Shacharit, including Mussaf and a Torah reading.

Origin

Shacharit according to tradition was identified as a time of prayer by Abraham, as Genesis 19:27 states, "Abraham arose early in the morning," which traditionally is the first Shacharit. However, Abraham's prayer did not become a standardized prayer. The sages of the Great Assembly may have formulated blessings and prayers that later became part of Shacharit. im. However, the siddur or prayerbook as we know it was not fully formed until around the 7th century C.E. The prayers said vary among congregations and Jewish communities.