This article was constructed with the help of either writings, lectures or shiurim of Rabbi’s Noach Isaac Oelbaum, Baruch Dopelt, Yossi Bilus,
Communication is an art! There are courses given on interpersonal communication. It’s not so easy to transmit your message always in a shiny light. Sadly, there are people who are professionals in making people despise them. Although there are those that try hard to avoid conveying a negative message at all costs, people fail in the most elementary laws in dealing with their fellow brethren. Judaism not only teaches us how to deal with our fellow man, it also teaches us how to express ourselves to a higher authority. Our Jewish religion teaches us that we – mortal humans – have the ability to communicate with G-d. Perhaps, dealing with G-d is easier than having to put up with the neighbor next door. One dimension of this communication is prayer! However, it is essentially vital that we understand how this link with our Creator works. It’s crucial to know, what the reason certain prayers are said and why they are said in a certain way. In this week’s parsha we are introduced to one of the fundamental prayers – the “Shema” and also the very important phrase which follows it.
The Gemara in Tractate Pesachim (56) discusses the practice of reciting the passage “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto Le’olam Va’ed” after reciting the verse of “Shema Yisrael.” The Gemara tells that Yaakov our forefather assembled his sons before his death and wished to reveal to them when the Mashiach will come to the world, when suddenly the Shechina (divine presence) left him. Yaakov suspected that this perhaps occurred because one of his sons was unworthy, and so all his sons declared in unison, “Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokenu Hashem Echad” (“Hear, O Israel – Hashem our God, Hashem is one!”), announcing to Yaakov that they were all believers in the one G-d. Yaakov was overjoyed to hear his sons’ collective declaration, and he praised G-d by exclaiming, “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto Le’olam Va’ed” (“Blessed is the Name of the Glory of His Kingship, forever!”). In the Book of Devarim, however, when Moshe declared the verse of “Shema Yisrael,” he did not then proclaim “Baruch Shem.” We thus face the dilemma of whether we should follow Yaakov’s example, and recite “Baruch Shem” after “Shema Yisrael,” or the precedent set by Moshe, to recite “Shema Yisrael” without adding “Baruch Shem.” For this reason, the Gemara writes, we recite “Baruch Shem” in a low tone after reciting the verse of “Shema Yisrael.” We do this as a compromise, of sorts, between the respective practices of Yaakov and Moshe. Out of respect for Yaakov, we follow his example by reciting “Baruch Shem”; in deference to Moshe, however, who did not follow “Shema Yisrael” with “Baruch Shem,” we make a point of reciting “Baruch Shem” silently. (The one exception is Yom Kippur, when we declare “Baruch Shem” in a loud tone)
Another reason is Moshe, who was on Mount Sinai waiting receiving the Torah, heard this beautiful prayer from the angels, and taught it to Israel!
We dare not say it aloud because we are unworthy of using an angelic formula, when Israel elevates itself to a sin free level of angels, we may proclaim it loudly. For that reason we are permitted to pronounce it on Yom Kippur because we are like angels on that special day.
However, there is a much deeper explanation of the dialogue between Yaakov and his sons.
Rabbi Baruch Dopelt learns out from the Sfat Emet about the word GALUT- exile, Rashi points out BIKESH L’GALOT ET HAKETZ-Yaakov wished to reveal the end of days. So, if one is able to master the Galut, he will be able to MEGALEH-to reveal, uncover the goodness that is in every course of action which takes place in this world…There will never ever be any doubt that whatever happens will always have G-d’s fingerprints on it. Although that revelation would have brought out G-d’ Autograph in this world, HAKADOSH BARUCH HU immediately made Yaakov to forget. The discovery of good will not be shown to us explicitly; it will have to be brought out through the inner self; it would be enhanced through the concept of belief in G-d in one’s heart. So He left the Autograph up to us. Our job is to make it recognizable that this is actually the ultimate piece of art, crafted by the Ultimate of all artists, the Master Designer/Architect/Engineer of all things. Even though it’s hard to believe; even though the truth is hidden, we trust that good is there in the occurrence, no matter how devastating it may seem.
Rabbi Oelbaum points out from the siddur HaGrar that “Baruch Shem” has six words that each represents another wing of angels who sang when the Temple stood. The Temple and its grander gave an ambiance of G-d’ Autograph to the highest degree. However, the Grar points out after the destruction of the Temple, in today’s time an angel has four wings. Apparently, the angel maneuvered its two wings making the sweet singing sounds stopped. Those particular wings were the ones that represented KAVOD SHAMAYIM.
Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l explained that when one recites a blessing, he is accepting his recognition of G-d’s hidden hand in this world. “When one recites a blessing over food, for example, he in essence is saying, “Master of the Universe, You are hidden behind a cloud; no one sees You. Yet, as I eat this food, I reveal Your Presence. The very fact that I can eat, that my body absorbs food, that I can digest, indeed the entire biological process behind food consumption and the very creation of food itself is testimony to Your presence. Through this recognition I am removing the obscuring cloud; I am revealing You.”
THE RECITATION OF KADISH IS POWERFUL!
When we say “Yehey Shemei Rabah Mevorach”, we are pronouncing to fill the whole world with KAVOD SHAMAYIM-G-d’s Autograph. We plead to radiate the world all over and all should see and recognize His design. It says in tractate Shabbat (119:) Rabbi Yehoshua, the son of Laivi,” whoever says Kaddish with all his strength, G-d rips up his bad decree”. Why? What’s so special about the Kadish that our bad decree will be torn up?
“There are no atheists in the fox whole”. One of the ways G-d is recognized is when the unfortunate happens. He is forced to use that method. Our natural human instinct is to turn to Our Creator. Does something negative has to happen for us to recognize Our Creator? Perhaps, we can bring about
G-d’s Kavod without the smacks. We don’t need the sicknesses or the lack of parnassa for us to get into the “recognizing G-d’s mode”. When we say the Kadish in the highest level, the highest sincerity, G-d rips the bad omen that was destined for us and says “they don’t need that; they’re bringing KAVOD SHAMAYIM from their pure soul.”
For this reason Yaakov reaffirmed the glory of his kinship after hearing his sons announce “we are all believers”. The reason the world was created – so one can give honor and acknowledgement to G-d without an autograph, the creatures of this world might take life, beauty, pleasure and all the other amenities of existence for granted. They could fail to take care of the home made for them, even turning reckless and destructive. Man can be seduced very easily; he can believe success or failure was only through his efforts, however, if he realizes G-d’s influence that is “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto Le’olam Va’ed”.
In the Mussaf Amida on Shabbat we say quoting the malachim “AYEKA MEKOM KEVODO-we angels are waiting for the Temple to be built so that the signature of G-d will be, once again apparent in this world; where is it? Where is it?
Yaakov answered “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto Le’olam Va’ed” – we are above the angels!! We don’t need a Temple to bring out KAVOD SHAMAYIM. We can MEGALEH the Autograph of G-d with our powerful good deeds and sincerity. It’s in our hands!! We can forfeit bad omens and bring it out because our pure soul can scream out a powerful prayer of Kadish or our children’s innocent recitation of any prayer that they learned in Yeshiva.
There is a powerful story that describes KAVOD SHAMAYIM in the highest level!
G-d appeared in a dream telling the Vilna Gaon-Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kremer,(Vilnius April 23, 1720 – Vilnius October 9, 1797) who he will sit next to in Gan Eden. Figuring, besides the curiosity, there is a lesson to be learned, he decided to travel to the address that the dream projected. He received many surprising strange looks, similar to what’s a proper Rabbi like you inquiring about this particular character like that, as he obtained the where-bouts from the town’s people. Although, now a bit more curious from the negative reaction asking himself what does G-d have in store for me, he made his way to the person’s residence. To his surprise he found a very obnoxious heavy set individual eating in the most unmannerly way.
Wondering, why G-d had chosen him to be his forever partner and how am I going to get used to this, he carefully approached him, examining every move and sound this butcher made.
After some time, the SHH….A whispered phrase can be impactful!
asked the butcher “why do you eat so much?”
His reply was astonishing! He said, with a stern angry voice; let me tell you a little story, Rabbi. We are Jews and we Jews, however lucky we are to be G-d’s ambassadors here on earth, are also subject to much jealousy and anti-Semites. When I was a boy, our family unfortunately experienced a pogrom. These Goyim YA-MACHSHIMAM put all our possessions in the middle of the street and lit a fire upon them. They, then, took my father, who was a petite man, and threw him in the burning possessions. Within seconds he was consumed. The pigs YA-MACHSHIMAM laughed and said that “Jew went fast”. Then the butcher paused a few minutes and continued. Every time I eat something I eat it with intent to get larger so if they ever come back to burn me I’ll make a glorious fire. They’ll say that Jew burned a long time”.
Now, the Vilna Gaon understood why the butcher was chosen to sit next to him in Gan Eden. The Vilna Gaon’s
intent to proclaim G-d’s Autograph by teaching Torah to the masses. The butcher’s whole life’s intent was to proclaim G-d Autograph by eating. Every ounce of food was purely for G-d !