Takkanah - Takkanot Ascribed To The Men of The Great Assembly

Takkanot Ascribed To The Men of The Great Assembly

1. The reading of Megillat Esther in the villages and unwalled cities on the Fourteenth of Adar and in walled cities on the following day; banquets on those days; and the giving of alms (Meg. 2a)
2. The introduction of seven blessings into the "Tefillah" on the Sabbath and on holy days; the addition of nine benedictions to the musaf for the New Moon and for the semi-festivals, and of twenty-four on fast-days (Ber. 33a)
3. Recitation of prayers:

(a) recitation of a number of prayers

(b) period of duration of each prayer

(c) the offering of prayer daily

(d) three times on week-days,

(e) four times on shabbat, Yom Tov (festivals), fasts, and Rosh Chodesh (New Moons), and

(f) five times on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement; later addition of the "Magen Avot" from the Amidah on Friday evening, and the genuflection before and after the first blessing ("Avot") and before and after the penultimate "hoda'ah" (Ber. 26b)

1. Introduction of Benediction, prayer, Kiddush, and Havdalah (Ber. 33a).