to be an ancient element of Jewish worship tradition adapted probably for synagogue services after the destruction of the first Temple. The fourth element of synagogue worship was and is the prayers. The primary example of ancient Jewish prayers is the Shemoneh Esreh (18 benediction prayer, sometimes called amidah—prayer recited standing up—or the more general Tefilla). Most scholars contend that the original 18 benedictions would have been in use during the time of Jesus, although one of the later