About this episode

Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the prayer Baruch She'amar, its structure, significance, and connection to the weekly parsha.

In this Prayer Podcast episode, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe begins an in-depth exploration of Baruch She'amar—the opening blessing of Pesukei Dezimra (verses of praise)—noting it may take one or two classes to cover fully. He explains the prayer's structure: an introductory section of 10 praises (corresponding to the 10 utterances of creation and 10 Commandments) followed by the actual blessing, with a total of 13 mentions of "Baruch" (representing Hashem's 13 Attributes of Mercy) and 87 words (numerical value of "paz" = finest gold, and acronym for Pesukei Dezimra). The rabbi highlights key practices: reciting Baruch She'amar standing, with song, while men hold the two front tzitzit strings (symbolizing 26 = YKVK); the prayer's origin (likely Men of the Great Assembly, with a heavenly revelation of exact wording); and its deeper meaning—praising Hashem who spoke the world into existence (yesh me'ayin), renews creation constantly (present tense verbs), decrees and fulfills, has compassion on all creatures, rewards the righteous eternally, redeems and rescues, and whose Name is blessed despite His hidden form. Hashem's actions are visible everywhere (modern miracles prove His presence), yet…

More episodes of Prayer Podcast · Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe

• HODU - 2 [Prayer: Pesukei Dezimra/Verses of Song #5] · March 16, 2026 · 18 min
• HODU - 1 [Prayer: Pesukei Dezimra/Verses of Song #4] · February 24, 2026 · 26 min
• BORUCH SH'OMAR - 2 [Prayer: Pesukei Dezimra/Verses of Song #3] · January 28, 2026 · 22 min
• Boruch Sh'amar READ-ALONG [Sephardic] · January 16, 2026 · 2 min
• Boruch Sh'amar READ-ALONG [Ashkenazic] · January 16, 2026 · 3 min
• Mizmor Shir READ-ALONG [Ashkenazic] · December 23, 2025 · 3 min

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