DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is For The Hatzlacha of
 Masri family, Tijuana, Mexico

Dedicated By
A. Masri

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 1.03 MB)
The Recitation of “Baruch Hashem Le’olam” Before Va’yebarech David

It is customary to recite each morning toward the end of the Pesukeh De’zimra service, just prior to the section of Va’yebarech David, four verses from Tehillim that begin with the word "Baruch":

1) "Baruch Hashem Le’olam Amen Ve’amen" (Tehillim 89:53)
2) "Baruch Hashem Mi’Siyon Shochen Yerushalayim Haleluy-a" (Tehillim 135:21)
3) "Baruch Hashem Elokim Elokeh Yisrael Oseh Nifla’ot Lebado" (Tehillim 72:18)
4) "U’baruch Shem Kebodo Le’olam Ve’yimaleh Chebodo Et Kol Ha’aretz Amen Ve’amen" Tehillim 72:19)

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in his work Od Yosef Haim (Parashat Vayigash 13; listen to audio recording for precise citation), explains the reason behind this recitation. He writes that these four verses correspond to the four letters of the Divine Name of "Havaya." The first verse corresponds to the letter Yod at the beginning of this Divine Name, which signifies the Sefira (emanation) of Hochma. The second verse corresponds to the second letter in this Name – the first Heh – which represents Bina. The third verse corresponds to the letter Vav, which alludes to the Sefira of Tiferet, and the fourth verse corresponds to the Name’s final letter, the second Heh, which expresses Malchut, the lowest of the Sefirot. Indeed, as the Ben Ish Hai notes, the fourth verse we recite makes mention of Malchut – "U’baruch Shem Kebod Malchuto" – because it corresponds with that Sefira.

The Ben Ish Hai also comments that the four letters of the word "Baruch," with which each of these verses begins, also correspond to the four letters of the Divine Name of "Havaya."

On the basis of this analysis, the Ben Ish Hai explains why we recite the verses out of sequence. The final two of these four verses are taken from Psalm 72, and we thus might have intuitively expected for them to be recited before the first two verses, which are taken from, respectively, Psalm 89 and Psalm 135. But once we realize that each of these verses corresponds to a different letter of "Havaya," we immediately understand that they must be recited in the sequence corresponding to the spelling of this Divine Name. The sequence of this recitation thus reflects the spelling of "Havaya," and not the sequence of these verses in the Book of Tehillim.

The Ben Ish Hai adds in this context a comment about the phrase "Amen Ve’amen," which appears twice in this series of verses. The word "Amen," he explains, is said to affirm the truth of what had just been recited – in this case, it affirms the truth of "Baruch Hashem Le’olam," that God is eternally blessed. "Amen" is repeated in these verses, the Ben Ish Hai writes, because we affirm God’s stature of greatness both in this world and in the next world. Therefore, the Ben Ish Hai concludes, it is proper when reciting "Amen Ve’amen" in these verses to have in mind that we affirm the truth of God’s dominion both in our world and in the world to come.

Summary: It is customary to recite the four verses of "Baruch Hashem Le’olam" before Va’yebarech David, and these four verses correspond to the four letters of the Divine Name of "Havaya." When reciting the words "Amen Ve’amen" in these verses, one should have in mind that he affirms that God is the exclusive ruler both in this world and the next.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
If the Hazan Forgot to Recite Ya’aleh Ve’yabo During the Repetition of the Amida on Rosh Hodesh
Should Two Kaddishim be Recited if a Shiur is Given Immediately Before Arbit?
Reciting “Yiheyu Le’rason Imreh Fi” at the End of the Amida
The Kaddish Before Baruch She’amar
The Value of Praying “Vatikin” and Studying Torah Before Prayer
The Importance and Significance of Birkat Ha’lebana
The Custom Among Syrian Jews Regarding the Text of “Ve’la’minim” and Other Portions of the Amida
Adding Prayers for Forgiveness and for One’s Livelihood in “Shema Kolenu”
If One Mistakenly Recited “Morid Ha’tal” Instead of “Mashib Ha’ru’ah U’morid Ha’geshem”
Should a Mourner be Called for an Aliya if He is the Only Kohen in Attendance?
May Birkat Kohanim be Recited if a Non-Jew is Present
If a Kohen Was Mistakenly Called for the Second Aliya; Calling Kohanim for Later Aliyot
How Should the Aliyot be Arranged in a Minyan of Only Kohanim, or if There is Only One Yisrael?
Birkat Kohanim – The Hazan’s Announcement of “Kohanim”; If There is One Kohen or No Kohanim Present
Birkat Kohanim in a Place Without a Sefer Torah; One Who Enters the Synagogue During Birkat Kohanim; Reciting Birkat Kohanim Several Times in One Day
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found