DVAR HALACHA 26

DVAR HALACHA 26

The Mishnah Berurah in siman reish lamed vav, se’if alef brings the Tur, who explains the minhag of saying "V'Hu Rachum" before Barechu each weekday evening. The Tur gives two reasons for this minhag. The first is connected to the korban tamid. Since there was no korban corresponding to ma'ariv to bring kapparah, we ask Hashem directly for forgiveness through V'Hu Rachum. Based on this reason alone, the Eliyah Rabbah observes that one might expect V'Hu Rachum to be recited on Friday night as well. In fact, the Avudraham records that some communities followed this practice.

The Tur then offers a second explanation. In earlier generations, it was the minhag to give one’s self malkos each evening as a kapparah for the day's aveiros, and "V'Hu Rachum" was said together with them. Since malkos were never administered on Shabbos, this second explanation would naturally account for why "V'Hu Rachum" is omitted on Friday night.

 The Eliyah Rabbah, however, explains that even according to the first reason, "V'Hu Rachum" is not said on Shabbos. Quoting the Mateh Moshe, he writes that the phrases of "V'Hu Rachum" correspond to the appointees from Shomayim that administer din in Gehenom at night during the week. Since the neshamos receive respite from Gehenom on Shabbos, there is no need for this tefillah on Friday night.

The Iyun Tefillah, quoting the Teshuvos HaGeonim, explains that just as Shabbos protects the neshamos from din in the next world, it also grants those who are shomer Shabbos an added measure of protection in this world. For this reason, the concluding brachah of Hashkiveinu is changed on Friday night. During the week we conclude: "Shomer amo Yisrael la'ad." On Shabbos we instead conclude: "HaPoreis sukkas shalom aleinu..."  As we enter Shabbos and draw closer to Hashem, we are sheltered beneath His Sukkas Shalom, enjoying the special protection that accompanies the kedushah of Shabbos.

 The Mishnah Berurah in siman reish samech zayin, seif katan tes rules that one who accidentally concludes with the weekday ending should correct himself if he realizes his mistake toch k'dei dibbur, the amount of time that it takes to say the words “shalom alecha rebbi u’mori”. If more time has passed, he does not repeat the brachah.

 The Aruch HaShulchan explains why. Even the weekday conclusion acknowledges that Hashem is our Protector. Since the protection of Shabbos itself comes only from Hashem, the essential meaning of the brachah has not been changed.  The Aruch HaShulchan adds that this same idea explains why we recite the pesukim of "V'Shamru" immediately afterward. These pesukim emphasize the special bris of Shabbos and the protection that accompanies those who guard it.

The Gra disagrees, maintaining that these pesukim interrupt the ideal of semichas geulah l'tefillah, and therefore omitted them. Although some shuls in Eretz Yisrael continue to follow the Gra's psak, the minhag in most kehillos is to say "V'Shamru." The Aruch HaShulchan explains that these pesukim do not interrupt the connection between geulah and tefillah. On the contrary, Chazal teach that through proper observance of Shabbos, the final geulah will come, making "V'Shamru" itself a continuation of that theme.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Reuven Eidlitz

Yeshiva Eitz Chaim, Monsey NY                                                                                                     

This dvar halacha is l’zchus refuah sheleima for Avraham ben Chaya Leah and Shmuel Avigdor ben Rivka b’soch sha’ar choley Yisroel