Acheinu

Acheinu (Hebrew:, Our brothers) is a Jewish prayer calling for the release of captives.

History
According to Rabbi Elie Kaunfer of the Hadar Institute, the Acheinu prayer first appeared in the Mahzor Vitry, a siddur authored in the 11th century.

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 ongoing 2023 Israel-Hamas war and the enduring hostage crisis, Acheinu has been a common anthem 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
The Acheinu prayer is recited during the Torah service, when the Torah is out of the ark. Ashkenazi Jews say Acheinu on Mondays and Thursdays, after the reading of the Torah.