Acheinu (Hebrew: , Our brothers) is a Jewish prayer for those who are in distress or captivity.
History The Acheinu prayer first appears in the Mahzor Vitry, a siddur authored in the 11th century,Machzor Vitri 199.
Composition and use Acheinu is a request to God to have mercy on captives and facilitate their redemption and release. It is akin to similar calls to liberate captives on other Jewish occasions, such as the Passover seder.
In the 1980s, songwriter Abie Rotenberg composed a niggun based on the Acheinu prayer text, which he included on his 1990 album Lev V’Nefesh. Released at the height of the First Intifada, Rotenberg's version became one the most widely used versions of Acheinu as an anthem.
During the Gaza war and the enduring hostage crisis, "Acheinu" became a common anthem for Jewish communities alongside the more upbeat "Am Yisrael Chai", with "Acheinu" sung more frequently at funerals, shivas, and prayer times. Jewish a cappella group The Maccabeats sung "Acheinu" at the March for Israel, and political commentator Ben Shapiro sang the song during his syndicated radio show.
Liturgy Ashkenazic Jews say Acheinu on Mondays and Thursdays, after the reading of the Torah, when the Torah is out of the ark.As it appears in Ashkenazic siddurim. Sephardic Jews recite it as an introduction to Birkat Hachodesh, recited on the Sabbath before Rosh Chodesh.As it appears in Sephardic siddurim.
See also Mi Sheberach, Jewish prayer to request a blessing from God
References
External links Text at Zemirot Database