Barukh she'amar
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 more common 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][clarification needed]
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, as well as Nusach Sefard, the custom is to recite most of the additional psalms of Shabbat (except for Psalms 92 and 93) prior to Barukh sheamar on Shabbat.[4]
Aspects of God
There are seven aspects of God mentioned in Barukh she'amar. These are:[5]
- God spoke and the world came to be.
- God speaks, does, decrees, and fulfills.
- God is merciful.
- God rewards those who fear Him.
- God is eternal.
- God rescues and redeems people.
- 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
- ^ Idelsohn, Abraham (1932). Jewish liturgy and its development. p. 80.
- ^ Kligman, Mark (2008). Maqām and liturgy: ritual, music, and aesthetics of Syrian Jews in Brooklyn. p. 90.
- ^ Idelsohn (2003), p. 81.
- ^ Adler, Cyrus. The Jewish Quarterly Review, Volume 11. p. 260.
- ^ Isaacs, Ronald (1997). Every Person's Guide to Jewish Prayer. p. 113.
- ^ Compendio dello "SHULCHAN 'ARUKH". Meqor Chajim (-VOLUME PRIMO- et -VOLUME SECONDO-) Kefar Chasidim/Rekhasim, Israel 1992
External links
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