View source for Mincha

{{Short description|Afternoon prayer service in Judaism}}
{{Italic title}}
[[File:Yeshiva lunchroom.jpg|thumb|300px|A mincha [[minyan]] (quorum of ten or more Jewish men) at a [[yeshiva]]|alt=Orthodox-dressed men studying]]
'''Mincha''' ({{langx|he|מִנְחָה}}, {{IPA|he|minˈχa|IPA}}; sometimes spelled '''Minchah''', '''Minhah''', '''Mincho''' or '''Minchuh''') is the afternoon prayer service in [[Judaism]].

==Etymology==
The name ''Mincha'', meaning "gift" or "offering", is derived from the [[meal offering]] that accompanied each sacrifice offered in [[Temple in Jerusalem|the Temple]] (Beit HaMikdash).<ref>Tosafot Pesachim 107a</ref>

==Origin==
The Hebrew noun ''minḥah'' ({{Script/Hebrew|מִנְחָה}}) is used 211 times in the [[Masoretic Text]] of the [[Hebrew Bible]], with the first uses referring to vegetable and animal offerings brought by [[Cain and Abel]] to God.<ref>[https://mg.alhatorah.org/Concordance/4503 Concordance: מִנְחָה]</ref> Most other uses refer to a [[gift offering]], made of grain, which could be offered at any time in the day.<ref>[https://mg.alhatorah.org/Dictionary/4503 Dictionary: מִנְחָה]</ref> However, occasionally the Bible uses "mincha" to specifically refer to the afternoon Temple sacrifice.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Kings|18:29|HE}}, {{Bibleverse|2 Kings|16:15|HE}}, {{Bibleverse|Ezra|9:4-5|HE}}</ref>

Rabbis in the [[Talmud]] debate whether the daily prayers have their origin in the behavior of the [[Patriarchs (Bible)|biblical Patriarchs]], or in the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]] sacrifices.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org.il/Berakhot.26b.4?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en Berachot 26b]</ref> According to the first opinion, the Mincha prayer was originated by [[Isaac]], who "went out to converse in the field",<ref>{{Bibleverse|Genesis|24:63|HE}}</ref> with God. According to the second opinion, the Mincha prayer is based on the afternoon ''tamid'' (daily) offering which was offered in the Temple each afternoon.

==Time frame for recitation==
Mincha is different from [[Shacharit]] and [[Maariv]] in that it is recited in the middle of the secular day. Unlike Shacharit, which is recited upon arising, and Maariv, which can be recited before going to sleep, Mincha is the afternoon prayer, and as a result of this, many Mincha groups have formed in workplaces and other places where many Jews are present during the day.<ref name="autogenerated87">Living Jewish: values, practices and traditions By Berel Wein, page 87</ref>

Mincha may be recited beginning half an hour (either regular or [[relative hour]]s) after ''[[halacha|halachic]]'' noontime. This earliest time is referred to as ''mincha gedola'' ("large mincha"). According to the Shulchan Aruch, it is preferably recited after ''mincha ketana'' ("small mincha", 2.5 ''halachic'' hours before sunset or nightfall),<ref>Shulchan Aruch OC 233:1</ref> but common practice is to recite it anytime after ''mincha gedola'' and not to be careful to recite it specifically after ''mincha ketana''.

The name "large mincha" may come from the fact that more of the day remains than in "small mincha".<ref>''Perisha'', [[Orach Chaim]] 232</ref>

Ideally, one should complete Mincha before [[sunset]] (''shkiah''), although many authorities permit reciting Mincha until nightfall. The [[Mishnah Berurah]] states that is preferable to recite mincha without a [[minyan]] before ''shkiah'' than to recite it with a ''minyan'' after ''shkia''.<ref>Mishnah Brurah, Orach Chaim 233:14</ref>

==Prayers==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2022}}
Mincha on a weekday exclusive includes prayers found at [[Shacharit]].

Prayers of Mincha include the following:
*[[Ashrei]]
*[[Uva Letzion]] (on [[Shabbat]] and [[Jewish holidays|Yom Tov]] only, in [[Italian Nusach]] also on fast days)
*[[Torah reading]] (on Shabbat and [[Fasting in Judaism|public fast days]] only)
*[[Amidah]] (in some communities, it includes slight variations from Shacharis) Like in Shacharit, it is generally recited silently and then repeated by the Chazzan.
*[[Avinu Malkeinu]] (on [[Ten Days of Repentance]] only, and in some communities also on public fast days; omitted on occasions when Tachanun is omitted)
*[[Tachanun]] (omitted on Shabbat, Yom Tov, and certain other festive days)
*[[Tzidkatcha]] (on Shabbat only; omitted on days when Tachanun would be omitted if it were a weekday)
* In the Sephardic rite (and in some Chasidic communities), a Psalm is recited here: generally, [[Psalm 67]] on weekdays, [[Psalm 93]] on Friday and [[Psalm 112]] on the sabbath.
*[[Aleinu]] - In some Ashkenazic communities, this is omitted if followed immediately by [[Maariv]].  In the [[Italian Nusach]] and [[Baladi-rite prayer|Baladi rite]], this is never recited at Mincha; in the modern Italian Nusach (although this is a relatively late addition), [[Psalm of the day]] or [[Psalm 67]] is recited instead.

Most [[Sephardi]]m and [[Italian Jews]] start the Mincha prayers with [[Psalm]] 84 and ''[[Korban]]ot'' ({{bibleverse||Numbers|28:1-8|HE}}), and usually continue with the ''Pittum hakketoret''. The opening section is concluded with {{bibleverse||Malachi|3:4|HE}}. Most non-Chasidic Ashkenizim begin with Ashrei, although many individuals recite the Korban HaTamid beforehand (a very few [[Nusach Ashkenaz]] communities have adopted the practice to recite Korban HaTamid ({{bibleverse||Numbers|28:1-8|HE}}) publicly).

On Yom Kippur, Ashkenazim postpone Ashrei and Uva Letzion until the [[Ne'ila]] service.

==See also==
* [[Asr]]
* [[Daily prayer in Mandaeism|Mandaean prayer at noontime]]
* [[Mussaf]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Jewish prayers}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mincha| ]]