established formula for calling the people to public prayer (Mishnah, Berachoth vii. 3; Talmud, ibid. 49 b). The addition of the italicised clause "Bless ye the Lord who-is-to-be-blessed" is ordained in the name of R. Ishmael (i.—ii. cent. C.E.) in the Mishnah just quoted; the insertion is designed to associate the Leader with the praise of God to which he summons his fellow-worshippers. The response of the congregation is based (by the Siphre, Deut. xxxii. 3) on the text: "When I call on the name of the Lord, ascribe ye greatness unto our God." In this and similar formulæ the verb translated bless has very much the same meaning as praise.
The passage which, as the rubric (p. 37) states, is said by the "Congregation in an undertone" is found in the Vitry, and is cited by Abudarham and the Ṭur (Oraḥ Ḥayyim 57, i) as a universal custom. Some authorities object to its inclusion. The passage, the opening phrases of which are the Hebrew equivalent of phrases in the Aramaic Kaddish, is compiled in part from Isaiah xliv. 6, Psalms lxviii. 5 and cxiii. 2. The readings vary in detail in the different rites. The practice of Cantors to prolong the melody in singing the first word of the invocation is in part due to the desire to allow the congregation time for reciting the long response.
There now follow the two Benedictions which lead up to the Shema. The Mishnah (Berachoth i. 4) attests the antiquity of these paragraphs, as well as of the paragraph that follows the Shema. "In the morning he recites two benedictions before the Shema, and one after it; and in the evening he recites two benedictions before the Shema and two after it." (On the evening benedictions see notes on P.B. p. 96.) The three morning benedictions are (a) a eulogy of God as creator of the light of day (P.B. p. 37), (b) a eulogy of God as giver of the Law (P.B. p. 39), and (c) an attestation of faith (following the Shema) including a eulogy of God as Redeemer of Israel from Egypt (P.B. pp. 42-44). For a full discussion of the problems connected with these
