Overview of the Evening Service
The Evening Service, called Ma’ariv (also called Arvit or spelled Maariv), is slightly longer than the Afternoon Service.
It features the Bar’khu call to prayer, the full Sh’ma with two introductory blessings and two concluding blessings, the Amidah, the Full Kaddish, the Aleinu hymn, and the Mourner’s Kaddish.
The Amidah is never repeated during the Evening Service.
Every day of the year, the Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Services follow some variation of the order of prayers outlined above. Thus, it is possible for any Jew from any community to walk into a service in any synagogue that maintains a traditional prayer service and be able to follow along and to participate fully.
Adapted with permission from The Observant Life.
