(א) בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹקִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ב) וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹקִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃ (ג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹקִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר׃ (ד) וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹקִ֛ים אֶת־הָא֖וֹר כִּי־ט֑וֹב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹקִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ (ה) וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹקִ֤ים ׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃ (פ)
(1) When God began to create heaven and earth— (2) the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water— (3) God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. (4) God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. (5) God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day.
What is the relationship between light and dark, night and day?
Tanchuma, Berachot 7
"What kinds of people are called dead even when they are alive? Those who see the morning sunlight...those who see the sun set...those who eat and drink, and are not stirred to say a blessing" --Tanhuma, Berakhot, 7
Why do you think that "being stirred" to make a blessing signifies aliveness?
Ma'Ariv Aravim - Text and Translation
Maariv Aravim is the first blessing before the Shema and generally the opening prayer of the Evening Service or Maariv. It is considered to be the parallel prayer to Yotzer Or, which is recited in the same place during the morning service (Shacharit). Just as Yotzer Or speaks of the coming of light, Maariv Aravim speaks of the coming of darkness. These are considered the first preparatory blessings for the recitation of Shema and affirm our appreciation for God's Creation. Maariv Aravim is a praise of God for bringing on the darkness, controlling the day and night, for ordering the stars in heaven, and for the seasons. While it is preferable to recite Maariv after dusk, it is permissible to recite this blessing any time after sunset, even if dusk has not occurred yet.
Ma'Ariv Aravim
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יקוק אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם אֲשֶׁר בִּדְבָרו מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים. בְּחָכְמָה פּותֵחַ שְׁעָרִים, וּבִתְבוּנָה מְשַׁנֶּה עִתִּים וּמַחֲלִיף אֶת הַזְּמַנִּים, וּמְסַדֵּר אֶת הַכּוכָבִים בְּמִשְׁמְרותֵיהֶם בָּרָקִיעַ כִּרְצונו. בּורֵא יום וָלָיְלָה, גּולֵל אור מִפְּנֵי חשֶׁךְ וְחשֶׁךְ מִפְּנֵי אור. וּמַעֲבִיר יום וּמֵבִיא לָיְלָה, וּמַבְדִּיל בֵּין יום וּבֵין לָיְלָה. יקוק צְבָאות שְׁמו: אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם תָּמִיד יִמְלוךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעולָם וָעֶד. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יקוק, הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים..
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe,
who speaks the evening into being,
skillfully opens the gates,
thoughtfully alters the time and changes the seasons,
and arranges the stars in their heavenly courses according to plan.
You are Creator of day and night,
rolling light away from darkness and darkness from light,
transforming day into night and distinguishing one from the other.
Adonai Tz’vaot is Your Name.
Ever-living God, may You reign continually over us into eternity.
Blessed are You, Adonai, who brings on evening.
How does this prayer illuminate your vision of night?
Hevrutah: (study in pairs or in small groups)
Please read text number 5 which has become part of the Passover Haggadah with your partner or group. Consider the following questions:
1. Why are the rabbis hung up on the word "all"?
2. What theological point are they making by way of the word "all"?
3. What is the difference between the position of Ben Zoma and that of the Sages?
4. How might this be read as a statement of faith?
5. What does it have to do with night time? With death?
אמר להם רבי אלעזר בן עזריה, הרי אני כבן שבעים שנה, ולא זכיתי שתיאמר יציאת מצריים בלילות, עד שדרשה בן זומא: שנאמר "למען תזכור את יום צאתך מארץ מצריים, כול ימי חייך" (דברים טז,ג)--"ימי חייך", הימים; "כול ימי חייך", הלילות. וחכמים אומרים "ימי חייך", העולם הזה; "כול ימי חייך", להביא את ימות המשיח.
Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah said:
I am like 70 years old, but I had not been able to show that the Exodus must be recited at night until Ben Zoma explained it.
It is said, “That you may remember the day you left Egypt all the days of your life.” (Deuteronomy 16:3)
“The days of your life” [alone] would indicate the days;
“all the days of your life” [also] indicates the nights.
The [other] sages said that “the days of your life” [alone] indicates our present world.
“All the days of your life” [also] includes the age of the Messiah.
Mishnah Braknot 1:5, Passover Haggadah
Rebbe Nachman once said, “A Jew’s main devotion is to get up for the Midnight prayers / Chatzot…” (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom, #301)
Kind, loving King,
help me pray to You in my own words
every single day
and express everything that is in my heart…
Help me to pray to You each night after Chatzot,
since this is the ideal time for secluded prayer.
Help me enter the innermost recesses of my heart
and search for my good points and cleanse myself of all negativity.
Let me develop my holy awareness,
and always remember the ultimate purpose of my life
and my destiny in the world to come.
(Likutei Tefillot I:54)
English
Questions: Why would after chatzot be an ideal time for secluded prayer and entering the innermost recesses of one's heart?
How would you enter the innermost recesses of your heart to search for your good points and cleanse yourself of negativity?
Thought: For those of us who sleep after chatzot, perhaps the process described in Rebbe Nachman's prayer is accomplished by dreams.
What do you think?