Havineinu or Habinenu () is a blessing from the Amidah, the central prayer of the Jewish liturgy. It is a condensed version of the middle 13 blessings of the Amidah, recited in places of those 13 blessings when time or circumstances call for a shorter prayer.Habinenu. Jewish Encyclopedia
Etymology
The word literally means 'cause us to understand', and comes from a Hebrew verb used in Tanakh and Talmud.See הֲבִינֵנִי
Sources
The Mishnah discusses saying a shortened Amidah, but does not give a specific text:
While the Mishnah can be read to say that all 18 blessings of Amidah are shortened, the Babylonian Talmud mentions that only the middle blessingsPalestinian Talmud and Mishnah mention 18 blessings in the Amidah; today Amidah contains 19 blessings though still using the title "eighteen". So there are 12 or 13 middle blessings, depending on source. are shortened, but the initial 3 blessings and final 3 blessings are full. The Babylonian Talmud gives the precise text of the single blessing which replaces the middle blessings:
Text Blessing of Amidah English Hebrew 4 Give us knowledge, the Lord, our God, to know Your ways, 5 and circumcise our heart, so that we may fear You, 6 and forgive us 7 so that we may be redeemed, 8 and distance us from our diseases, 9 and satisfy us with the pastures of Your land, 10 and gather our scattered Jews from the four [corners of the earth], 11 and those who go astray shall be judged according to Your will, 12 and raise Your hands over the wicked, 13, 14, 15 and may the righteous rejoice in the rebuilding of Your city,and the restoration of Your Sanctuary,and in the flourishing of Your servant David,and in establishing a torching light for Your King, son of Jesse. 16 Even before we call, but You already answer. Blessed are You, the Lord, Who listens to prayer.
References
Citations
Sources
S. Baer, Abodat Yisrael, p. 108, note
External links Habinenu. Jewish Encyclopedia