Sep 29, 2022
ובכן תן פחדך - The Unusual Additions to the Third Berakha on Yamim Noraim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
There are three (or four, or five) paragraphs which are added to every Tefilla on Rosh Hashana and Yom haKippurim during the third berakha -"Kedushat haShem". Each paragraph begins with the word "Uvekhen" and anticipate an epoch when the whole world will recognize God as the Master of the World and will subjugate themselves to Him. It will be a day of great rejoicing for the righteous - and a complete "shutdown" of the wicked. Where do these paragraphs come from? Why were there some customs to only add them on Rosh Hashana? Why do some communities (e.g. the Yemenite Baladi) add them in every Tefilla during Aseret Yemei Teshuva? We explore these issues and more in this shiur, in preparation for the Yamim Noraim.