The Shema Blessing of “Yotzer Ohr” - Discussions on Prayer, Lesson 28

Autoplay Next

The Shema Blessing of "Yotzer Ohr": Discussions on Prayer, Lesson 28

The first blessing of the Shema begins with the notion of forming light and creating darkness (day and night). Also described is the uniquely divine nature of creation and the need for the continuous creative force.

Related Text:	Yotzeir Or Hameir Laaretz
Podcast:	Subscribe to Shmuel Kaplan - Discussions on Prayer Podcasts Audio Video RSS Apple RSS
Audio:	Listen to Audio \| Download this MP3
Topics:	Good and Evil, Prayer Book, Prayer, Blessings of the Shema, Perpetual Creation, Creation ex nihilo, Day, Light & Darkness

« Previous

The Blessings of the Shema

He Created All with Wisdom

By Shmuel Kaplan

Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan is a noted Torah scholar and lecturer. He is the director of Chabad-Lubavitch of the Maryland Region, a board member of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the international educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, and of the Jewish Learning Institute. Rabbi Kaplan serves as the spiritual leader of The Shul at the Lubavitch Center in Baltimore, Md., and has hosted radio and television shows for more than 35 years, including hosting the acclaimed weekly radio show, "Awake, Alive, and Jewish," and co-hosting the weekly cable program, "Diana, Mike, and the Rabbi."

More in this section

Join the Discussion

Sort By:

NewestOldest

4 Comments

Rabbi Kaplan Baltimore August 8, 2016

Your question is on the mark and deserves an immediate response.
The Torah tells us that the world was created by Divine speech as is indicated by the first word of each of the statements of creation "vayomer" and He said. The reason for this is that speech is the faculty where the matter exits the person and travels to be revealed to the recipient. G-d created the world (at least as it appears to us) to be outside (independent) of Him and therefore it is describes as the faculty of speech. However, that is not where the process begins. Speech must first be formulated in thought before it is expressed in speech. The difference is that thought remains within (unified) the person. On Shabbat G-d ceased creating though Divine speech and the world continues to be sustained by Divine thought and this is why the day of Shabbat is holy. Because it is in a closer bond with the Divine (thought) that is why we are prohibited for doing and constructive work on this day and it is consecrated. Reply

Anonymous Phoenix August 6, 2016

Ok, so please explain how Shabbat works in this concept of continuously creating. How could he "rest" from creating? Or do I have a misunderstanding of His "resting"? Reply

Mark Solomon New York October 19, 2015

Increasing my comfort level For many years I felt uncomfortable in shul because I was unable to keep up with the pace of the davening; it seemed I could never read fast enough to stay with the chazzan. Since I've been attending your on-line discussions I've learned to enjoy lingering over the words, contemplating their deeper meaning. I'm no longer self-conscious about taking so long to complete my prayers, and with increased familiarity I'm sure fluency will follow in time. Thank you, and I sincerely hope you have plans to post many more of these discussions. Reply

Lenore Roberts June 23, 2015

Thank you so very much. Your discussion is a gift!
I look forward to further study with you. Reply

The Shema Blessing of "Yotzer Ohr": Discussions on Prayer, Lesson 28

More in this section

You may also be interested in...

Join the Discussion