Maariv

The service will often begin with two verses from Psalms, followed by the communal recitation of Barechu.

Other prayers occasionally added include the Counting of the Omer (between Passover and Shavuot) and (in many communities) Psalm 27 (between the first of Elul and the end of Sukkot).

Support is brought from Genesis 28:11, which says that when Jacob left his hometown of Beersheba to go to Haran, he "met at the place for the sun had set."

The Talmud understands this to mean that Jacob prayed at night and hence instituted Maariv.

If Maariv is recited prior to dusk, individuals repeat the Shema later in the evening.

[6] In many congregations, the afternoon and evening prayers are recited back-to-back, to save people having to attend synagogue twice.

[8] On the eve of Shabbat, some have the custom to recite the Maariv prayer earlier than usually, generally during Pelag Hamincha (1¼ hours before sunset).

When a minyan is present, Barechu, the formal public call to prayer, is recited.

The first praises God for taking the Jews out of Egypt, and the second prays for protection during the night.

A fifth blessing, Baruch Adonai L'Olam, is then recited by Ashkenazim outside of Israel (except for some chassidic communities such as Chabad-Lubavitch, and followers of the Vilna Gaon).

However, the blessing is omitted on Shabbat and holidays, and by some at the conclusion of those days and on Chol HaMoed.

However, some Moroccan communities (both in Israel and elsewhere) recite the last part of the blessing (starting from Yir'u eineinu) at Maariv at the conclusion of the Sabbath.

[12] On Shabbat and holidays, some congregations recite relevant verses at this point, after the last Shema blessing.

On Festivals, some Ashkenazic communities recite piyyutim called Ma'arivim during the blessings of Shema.

The most well-known of these piyyutim is Lel Shimurim Oto El Hatzah, recited on the first night of Passover.

From the beginning of Elul through Hoshanah Rabbah (and outside of Israel, on Shemini Atzeret as well), most Nusach Ashkenaz communities recite Psalm 27, which contains many allusions to the Days of Awe and Sukkot.

In most communities (except Chabad, those who follow the Vilna Gaon, and some Baladi Yemenites), the verses Exodus 31:16-17 are recited proceeding half kaddish before the Amidah.

At the beginning of Shabbat on Friday night, the Amidah is immediately followed by the recitation of Genesis 1–3 which discusses God's "resting" on the seventh day of creation.

One who forgets to recite this paragraph may also end Shabbat through Havdalah[16] or by saying the words "Blessed is He Who differentiates between the holy and the secular."

On Yom Kippur, an extended order of Selichot is recited; in Ashkenazic communities, this is followed by Avinu Malkeinu (except on the Sabbath).