Maariw Arawim

The Maʿariw ʿArawim ( Hebrew מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים Maʿarīv ʿAravīm , German , 'He who lets the evenings become evening' ) is a Jewish prayer.

description

It is the first blessing before the Shema and generally the opening prayer during the Maʿariw . It is the parallel prayer to Birkat Jozer Or that is recited in the same place in the Shacharit . Just like Birkat Jozer Or, who describes the coming of light, the Maʿariw ʿArawim describes the coming of darkness. MaʿariwaʿArawim and Ahawat Olam , both recited at the beginning of Maariv, are both considered blessings before the Shema (בִּרְכובִּ קְרִיאַת ִ). Hence, in this form, they are seen as a confirmation of unity. The Maʿariw ʿArawim is a prayer of thanks to God for creating darkness, creating day and night, creating stars in the sky, and ordering the seasons. It is permissible to recite this blessing anytime after sunset, even if darkness has not yet fully entered.

Text and translation

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה '. אֱלהֵינוּ 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. ה 'צְבָאות שְׁמו:

אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם תָּמִיד יִמְלוךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעולָם וָעֶד:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה ', הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים:

"Blessed be you [...] King of the world, who with his words makes the evening dawn, opens gates with wisdom and with insight changes minutes and lets times change and arranges the stars in their watch in the firmament according to his will, creates day and Night, lets light recede from dark and dark from light, day go away and night come and separates day and night, God of hosts is his name. He, the living and unchangeable God will always rule over us for ever and ever. You are blessed, God, who makes the evenings dawn. "

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Shema is for Real By Joel Lurie Grishaver, p. 62
2. ^ Teaching Tefilah: Insights and Activities on Prayer By Bruce Kadden, Barbara Binder Kadden, p. 48
3. ↑ Siah śarfe ḳodesh By Richard N. Levy, Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, p 57
4. ^ Teaching Tefilah: Insights and Activities on Prayer By Bruce Kadden, Barbara Binder Kadden, p. 45
5. ^ Rabbinic-lay relations in Jewish law By Walter Jacob, Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah, Central Conference of American Rabbis, p. 124
6. ↑ Samson Raphael Hirsch : Siddûr tefillôt Yiśrāʾēl , trans. u. ext. 3. Edition. Kauffmann, Frankfurt a. M. 1921, p. 257