The Siddur Project
Mussaf: The Other Lost Mo'ed
In our parashah this week, we learn about the continual burnt offering.
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.' And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil. It is a regular burnt offering, which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD. (Numbers 28:1-6, emphasis added)
As explained in the Knocking on Heaven's Gates teaching seminar, the word for "appointed time" is mo'ed, which is the same word used for the biblical festivals, such as Passover or Sukkot. So in a sense, this passage shows that there is a special time for meeting with God twice each day.
In the Temple, the Amidah prayer accompanied the continual burnt offering mentioned in the passage. Since the Temple's destruction, the Amidah stands alone in its place. The connection between prayer and sacrifice is frequently drawn in the book of Hebrews (see Hebrews 13:15, for example).
The morning prayer time is called Shacharit, and the afternoon prayer time is Minchah. Additionally, it is customary to pray the Amidah during the evening, in a service called Ma'ariv. (Originally, this evening Amidah was optional, but eventually Jewish sages determined that it should be a requirement.)
However, there is another important mo'ed mentioned in our text:
On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering: this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. (Numbers 28:9-10, emphasis added)
So on the Sabbath, there was a burnt offering in addition to the morning and evening sacrifice. This additional burnt offering is called Mussaf, which means "additional" or "added."
Corresponding with this, there is an additional prayer service on Shabbat known as the Mussaf Amidah. Mussaf is an additional mo'ed (appointed time) for prayer, and as you can see, it is as equally legitimate as Shacharit or Minchah. In fact, an even better case can be made for saying the Amidah at Mussaf than at Ma'ariv in the evening. Mussaf is not just an afterthought. It is one of the appointed times of prayer.
It is important to note that the Mussaf Amidah does not only occur on Shabbat. You will find that an additional burnt offering is also brought on holidays and on Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of each lunar month.
Shabbat is the perfect time to draw near to God. May your Sabbath be filled with an additional measure of peace and holiness.
For more information on Mussaf and other Sabbath prayers, watch for the Shabbat Shalom conference audio teachings, which are slated for release in a few weeks.
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