Parshas Vayechi: Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuso

AI summary (may contain mistakes)

Why do we say Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuso quietly? The Gemara says Yaakov Avinu said it when the shvatim answered Shema Yisrael, but Moshe Rabbeinu did not write it, so we say it quietly as a compromise. Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, in Emes L'Yaakov, suggests Yehei Shmei Rabbah is Baruch Shem L'olam Va'ed in Aramaic, which would explain why Kaddish is said in Aramaic. Chassidish seforim dispute which two words went missing, and a Gemara in Yoma touches the same question of seeing Hashem's malchus in golus.

Key points

• A Midrash in the Tur: Moshe Rabbeinu heard Baruch Shem from malachim, so it is said quietly.
• The Vilna Gaon says the two wings lost at the Churban are the words Kevod Malchuso.
• Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky reads Yehei Shmei Rabbah as Baruch Shem L'olam Va'ed in Aramaic.

In this shiur

1. 0:00Yaakov Avinu and the hidden geulah
2. 2:53Why Baruch Shem is said quietly
3. 4:10The Midrash in the Tur
4. 5:48Why Kaddish is in Aramaic
5. 7:17The malachim's wings in the Merkava
6. 11:29Yehei Shmei Rabbah as a translation
7. 14:25Which two words are missing
8. 15:54The Gemara in Yoma on Shemoneh Esrei

Topics

• Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuso
• Krias Shema
• Kaddish
• Yaakov Avinu