Ashrei

Ashrei (Hebrew: אַשְׁרֵי) is a prayer that is recited at least three times daily in Jewish prayers, twice during Shacharit (morning service) and once during Mincha (afternoon service). The prayer is composed primarily of Psalm 145 in its entirety, with Psalms 84:5 and Psalms 144:15 added to the beginning, and Psalms 115:18 added to the end. The first two verses that are added both start with the Hebrew word ashrei (translating to 'happy', 'praiseworthy' or 'fortunate'), hence the prayer's name. Ashrei is recited three times daily during the full course of Jewish prayers, in accordance with the Talmudic statement that one who recites Ashrei three times daily is guaranteed a place in the World to Come.[1] For this reason, not only is Ashrei recited these three times, but many of its verses occur throughout liturgy.[2]Show more

Ashrei is recited twice during Shacharit (once during Pesukei D'Zimrah and once between Tachanun/Torah reading and Psalm 20/Uva Letzion or in this place when any of these are omitted), and once as the introduction to Mincha; it is also recited in many customs at the commencement of Selichot services. On Yom Kippur, Ashkenazim recite it during Ne'ila instead of during Mincha, whereas Sephardim and Italians recite it during both Mincha and Ne'ila.[3]