DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 804 KB)
The Recitation of “Hashkibenu” On Weeknights and On Friday Night

Each night, before the recitation of the Amida prayer during Arbit, we recite "Hashkibenu," though the text of "Hashkibenu" that we recite on Friday night differs from that which we recite during the week. In the text recited on weeknights, we pray to Hashem for protection. We recite the verse, "Hineh Lo Yanum Ve’lo Yiyshan Shomer Yisrael" ("Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps"), and we conclude by speaking of G-d’s role in protecting His people ("Shomer Et Amo Yisrael Mi’kol Dabar Ra La’ad"). On Shabbat, however, we do not need to pray for protection, because, as taught by the Zohar and mentioned by the Tur, Shabbat itself serves as a source of protection. Our "Shemirat Shabbat" – our "protecting" Shabbat from desecration – is reciprocal: we protect Shabbat, and Shabbat protects us. This concept is expressed in the famous hymn composed by Ibn Ezra: "Ki Eshmera Shabbat, Kel Yishmereni" – "When I keep Shabbat, the Almighty will keep me." Therefore, we recite a different text of "Hashkibenu" on Shabbat, without praying for protection.

Nevertheless, if one mistakenly recited the weeknight text on Friday night, or the Friday night text on a weeknight, he does not have to repeat the prayer. This is the ruling of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his Hazon Ovadia.

However, the Sha’ar Ha’kavanot emphasizes the importance of reciting in the Friday night prayers the words, "Ve’hagen Ba’adenu U’fros Alenu Sukat Shlomecha," as through this recitation we receive our "Neshama Yetera" – the "extra soul" granted to us on Shabbat. Therefore, the Kaf Ha’haim (Rav Yaakob Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Israel, 1870-1939) ruled that if one mistakenly recited the weeknight text on Friday night, although he is not strictly required to repeat "Hashkibenu," he should recite the phrase from "Ve’hagen Ba’adenu" through the end of the blessing, omitting Shem U’malchut ("Hashem Elokenu Melech Ha’olam"). Rav Moshe Halevi (Israel, 1961-2001), in his Menuhat Ahaba, disputed this ruling, claiming that reciting these words after completing "Hashkibenu" would constitute a "Hefsek" (improper interruption in the prayer). Hacham Ovadia Yosef, however, refutes this argument and accepts the Kaf Ha’haim’s ruling. Therefore, if one mistakenly recited the weeknight text of "Hashkibenu" on Friday night, he should say the final phrase of the prayer – from "Ve’hagen Ba’adenu" through the end of the Beracha – without Shem U’malchut.

Summary: The text of "Hashkibenu" which is recited before the Amida prayer at Arbit on Friday night differs from the text recited during the week. If one mistakenly recited the weeknight text of "Hashkibenu" on Friday night, he does not repeat the prayer, but he should preferably recite the final phrase of the Beracha – from "Ve’hagen Ba’adenu" until the end – without the words "Hashem Elokenu Melech Ha’olam."

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Chanukah- May a Traveling Man Light in a Hotel Room?
Chanukah- Shehechiyanu on the Second Night
Hanukah: Lighting When Traveling
Reciting Hallel on Hanukah
Hanukah – Lighting Candles After Minha in an Office; Lighting at Weddings or Other Public Gatherings
Hanukah – Lighting One Hanukah Candle From Another
2 Halachot: Lighting the Hanukah Candles on Friday Night and Where Does One Light the Hanukah Candles if He Goes Away for Shabbat?
The Importance of Lighting Hanukah Candles at the Proper Time
Reciting the Berachot Before Hanukah Candle Lighting; Customs for After Candle Lighting; Positioning the Candles
Hanukah: Do the Ashkenazim Follow the Rambam (How many Menorahs In Each Home by The Ashkenazim)?
Hanukah Candle Lighting in the Synagogue: How Many People Must be Present, and Which Berachot are Recited?
Hanukah Candles – Lighting in the Synagogue
Chanukah – Lighting When Staying Overnight With Parents, or During Overnight Travel
The Proper Time for Lighting Hanukah Candles; Eating and Learning Before Lighting the Hanukah Candles
The Reward for Lighting Hanukah Candles
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found