5. After [the congregants have individually completed the Shmone Esrei (silent prayer) of Maariv (evening service) on Shabbos, and have communally recited the verses beginning with "Va'yechulu," (1)] the Chazzan (cantor) recites the abridged form of the seven blessings [which make up the Maariv Shmone Esrei] (2). This abridged form consists of the blessing: "Baruch Ata Hashem, Elokeinu, VeElokei Avosenu...Mogen Avos...Elokeinu, VeElokei Avosenu...," and concludes with "Baruch Ato Hashem, Mekadesh HaShabbos (3)." The congregation should stand and listen attentively while the Chazzan recites this blessing (4). It is customary for the congregation as a whole to sing the group of phrases beginning with the words "Magen Avos" and ending with "Zecher LeMa'aser Bereshis" (the Chazzan then repeats aloud what the congregation have just sung). One who is not praying with a congregation may also say from "Magen Avos" until "Zecher LeMa'aser Bereshis", but nothing else (5).

FOOTNOTES:

(1) See previous Halacha

(2) Even though there is no obligation for the Chazzan to repeat the Shmonei Esreh of Maariv, the Rabbis made a special enactment for the Maariv of Shabbos. In Talmudic times, the synagogues were usually situated in the fields outside the city, and it would be dangerous for individuals to be left there alone; consequently, the Rabbis added this special blessing to the end of the service in order to delay the completion of the prayers, thus allowing the latecomers to catch up and then leave the synagogue along with the rest of the congregation. This enactment is still binding today, even though the reason for its creation no longer applies.

(3) Each phrase of the abridged version parallels one of the seven blessings in the Maariv Shmone Esrei of Shabbos: "Mogen Avos" = Mogen Avraham, "Mechayeh Meisim" = Mechayeh Meisim, "Hokel Hakadosh" = Hokel Hakadosh, "HaManiach LeAmo..." = Retzeh Bim'nuchaseinu, "Lefonov Na'avod..." = Retzeh, "VeNodeh LiShmo..." = Modim, "Adon HaShalom" = Sim Shalom.

(4) The Tur quotes a story from "Sefer Chasidim" which tells of a certain Chasid who saw another previously deceased Chasid in his dream, who had a very sickly and pale appearance. In the dream, he asked the man why he looked so terrible, and the man answered that it was because he used to talk in synagogue on Friday night during the recitation of "Vayechulu," the abridged version of the Shemoneh Esrai, and during "Kaddish" (See Mishna Berurah 268:26).

(5) In other words, neither he, nor the congregation as a whole, may recite the blessing at the beginning or the end of that group of phrases, because the blessing was only enacted for the Chazzan.

	The Sabbath and Festival Prayer Paragraph 3-4		The Sabbath and Festival Prayer Paragraphs 6-7
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