Tuesday, October 30, 2007
16b: No Saying "Amen" in the Mikdash
I'm not sure I can picture a modern prayer service that doesn't include the congregation responding "Amen." I knew that "baruch shem kavod..." was popular in the Temple, but I didn't realize that it was always in place of "Amen." After reading over the gemarra a couple times, I'm still not exactly clear on why the verse from Nehemia 9:5 explains this. I understand the context, that they were instructed by the priests during the time of Ezra and Nehemia to say this upon the return from exile -- but why only in the Temple? And why do we only say it now after the shema?
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It's good to be back. I know I've been falling behind, but I'm back now. As to this whole amud, I am amazed at the ritualized nature of the petitioning, and I wonder again at our loss of such calling out in special circumstances. We basically say pslams now, for everything. I also thought it was interesting that the Sages ruled that this whole rigamarole does NOT take place anywhere but the Temple, which leads me to wonder: what are they worried about? Why are they restricting this practice to the Temple, especially given the fact that they know the Temple no longer exists?
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