The Blessings of the Shema: Discussions on Prayer, Lesson 27
The third section of prayer consists of the Shema and its preceding and following blessings. They correspond to the third rung on the ladder of prayer—the realm of intelligence, which is higher than the previous two rungs of action and emotion.
| Related Text: | Online Siddur with Commentary: Yotzeir Or |
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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."
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32:43The Shema Blessing of "Yotzer Ohr"
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29:41He Created All with Wisdom
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28:48The Heavenly Bodies
Thank you Rabbi Kaplan. One question - you say it is a fundamental jewish belief that Hashem creates the universe from 'nothing'. Doesn't the very word 'no-thing' imply the absence of God? This cannot be if God is part of everything. Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that Hashem creates the Universe from His eternal essence (which may well appear to be 'nothing' from man's standpoint but in reality is not...)? Alternately to clarify that the word 'nothing' means no 'material' thing. Thanks again!