Barukh she'amar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barukh she'amar (Hebrew: בָּרוּךְ שֶׁאָמַר, baruch sheamar, or other variant English spellings), is the opening blessing to pesukei dezimra.

The prominent version of Barukh sheamar contains 87 words. This is the gematria of the Hebrew word paz (פז‎) meaning "refined gold.".[1] An alternative text is printed in some Sephardic prayer books, often alongside the traditional version.

Purpose[]

Barukh she'amar acts as a transition in the prayer service. In the Syrian tradition, the common melody for the prayer is derived from that of Hatikvah.[2]

Origin[]

Initially, Saadya Gaon instituted the recitation of barukh she'amar for Shabbat, but in France, it became a custom to recite this prayer daily.[3] Saadya Gaon wrote in his siddur two Barukh she'amars: weekdays version has one "barukh" and Shabbath version has 12 "barukhs". The modern version combined two Barukh she'amars versions together with 13 "barukhs" interpreting it qabbalistically like "echad" gematria.

In the Sephardic and Oriental liturgy, the custom is to recite all the additional psalms of Shabbat prior to Barukh sheamar on Shabbat.[4]

Aspects of God[]

There are seven aspects of God mentioned in Barukh she'amar. These are:[5]

  1. God spoke and the world came to be.
  2. God speaks, does, decrees, and fulfills.
  3. God is merciful.
  4. God rewards those who fear Him.
  5. God is eternal.
  6. God rescues and redeems people.
  7. Blessed is God's name.

Halakhah[]

Barukh she'amar becomes the initial part of the daily Jewish morning prayer, in "history-periods" of serious difficulty for the whole Jewish people; when there are not persecutions, ongoing diasporas or anything else serious for the Jews, Shacharit begins as always.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ Jewish liturgy and its development By Abraham Zebi Idelsohn, page 80
  2. ^ Maqām and liturgy: ritual, music, and aesthetics of Syrian Jews in Brooklyn By Mark L. Kligman, page 90
  3. ^ Jewish liturgy and its development By Abraham Zebi Idelsohn, page 81
  4. ^ The Jewish quarterly review, Volume 11 By Cyrus Adler, page 260
  5. ^ Every person's guide to Jewish prayer By Ronald H. Isaacs, page 113
  6. ^ Compendio dello "SHULCHAN 'ARUKH". Meqor Chajim (-VOLUME PRIMO- et -VOLUME SECONDO-) Kefar Chasidim/Rekhasim, Israel 1992

External links[]


Stub icon

This Judaism-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""