Wisdom & Wit

Y'HI CH'VOD - HaShem's Joy

Y’HI CH’VOD - HaShem’s Joy

Meaning: translation…
May the glory of Hashem endure forever, let Hashem rejoice in His works. Blessed be the Name of Hashem, from this time and forever. From the rising of the sun to its setting, Hashem’s name is praised.
Theme:
An essential concept of the prayer
NACHAS
The daily miracles Hashem provides for us stir us to thank Him with joy.
Insight: Deeper meanings…
Handling Mitzvot with Care
We pray YISMACH HASHEM B’MAASAV, let Hashem rejoice in His works.” This occurs when Hashem’s crowning creation - mankind, studies Hashem’s Torah and fulfills His mitzvot. When we live and act in accordance with the Torah, we bring joy to Hashem.
Xenix, a visitor from another planet, inexplicably finds himself in the office of a diamond merchant on Manhattan’s 47th Street, the center of the Diamond District. He watches the merchant weighing and examining tiny colorless rocks, which look much like the gravel on the surface of his planet. He sees the merchant wrap the rocks in paper and lock them securely in a vault. Xenix has no idea what purpose these little rocks serve, but from his observations, he perceives their great value to the merchant.
Like Xenix in the merchant’s office, a gentile who observes a Jew performing a mitzva may have no inkling as to its value. Why does a Jew, stuck at the airport without food, have to search for a tiny kosher symbol on a packaged snack before he allows himself to eat? Why do Jewish men and women dress far more modestly than is the norm in today’s world?
The actual spiritual value of a mitzva is not even given to the Jewish people to understand fully (Avot 2:1). For the gentile, it would appear to be all the more mystifying. Does the rest of the world see G-d’s glory in our seemingly inexplicable lifestyle, or do they see an interesting oddity?
According to the Chofetz Chayim, our observance of mitzvot must convey that they possess priceless value in our eyes. Like the merchant’s careful handling of his diamonds, our reverent, joyful handling of our service to Hashem can convey to those with no understanding of what we are doing that this service is a treasure.
G-d gave us the Torah and mitzvot as the means to infuse His light into the material world. When Jews follow the Torah’s teachings with sincerity, consistency, and sacrifice, the rest of the world will come to perceive the priceless value of our Divine mitzvot. Therefore, Jews who conduct themselves in this manner are praiseworthy in the eyes of others, which brings joy to Hashem.
Visualize:
Images that bring the prayer to life
Performing with an Audience
Sitting in his in-law’s living room with his cranky little boy Shmueli, Reuven Rosen realized that trouble was brewing. His three year old boy, tired and recovering from an ear infection that had kept them both up all night, was winding up for a tantrum. Reuven knew there was no stopping it. Offering toys, pretzels, sympathy and distractions, one after the other, would do no good. Shmueli’s whining turned into crying, and before long, into kicking and screaming.
The exhausted Reuven thought, “Whether I hold him or ignore him, he’ll probably tantrum for the same half-hour.” But sitting there with Shmueli’s loving grandparents, how could Reuven ignore his screaming child? Thus he labored on, lifting him, soothing him, bouncing him, rubbing his back and trying all other manner of comfort and distraction.
“You’re such a wonderful father,” Reuven’s mother-in-law glowed. “What patience you have!” his father-in-law exulted. Clearly, viewing their son-in- law’s parenting skills confirmed their pleasure with their daughter’s choice of spouse.
Like Reuven, we all have it within ourselves to “go above and beyond”, and usually call upon that strength when we know others are watching. Hashem is watching; when we realize that as we recite our tefilot and perform His mitzvot, we naturally go above and beyond. In return, Hashem goes above and beyond with us, fulfilling our prayers with enthusiasm and love.
Did you know…
Y’HI CH’VOD consists of 18 verses, and Hashem’s name is mentioned 19 times. This alludes to the Shemoneh Esrei… reflects the main purpose of Pesukei D’Zimra, which is to prepare us for the main tefila - Shemoneh Esrei (Rav Schwab on Prayer, p.163).

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