The Degel Machane Efraim writes that the word “baruch” in Baruch She’amar is similar to the Hebrew word “breicha” which means a pool of water. Imagine a massive lake that has dozens of rivers and streams branching out of it. As a narrow stream of water distances itself from the lake, it will begin to take on the nature of its unique surroundings, based on the animal and plant life, soil, rocks, temperature and so on, that are around it. As the Medrash says, the same type of fish can taste different in two different places. However, as the water from the stream meets with its source, the lake, all its differences are instantly nullified, and it blends into one consistent body of water.
Our world looks ‘real,’ with all of its unique characteristics. There is a physical space, with galaxies and planets, continents and oceans, people and animals and plant life. There is a spiritual reality, of holiness and G-dliness that is often concealed by outer shells, giving us a mission to reveal it. There is cause and effect, reward and punishment, and the 10 middos through which Hashem operates our world.
However, as you ascend to a higher spiritual reality, all of these characteristics begin to blur and blend together. In the spiritual space called Kesser, which is above and prior to Hashem’s desire to create a physical world, there is only one reality, that of the presence of Hashem.
From Hashem’s presence comes Hashem’s thought.
From His thought comes His utterances, and as his utterances descend they concretize and become our physical reality. “Baruch Shea’amar V’haya Olam, Blessed is the One who spoke and the universe came into being.” Our existence is not one of earth, water, fire, and air, but rather one of the utterances of Hashem which gives the world its existence at every moment.
If you look carefully at this tefillah, which our sages tell us was sourced from a piece of paper that descended from Heaven, you can see this process unfolding with a detailed description of our physical world descending from Heaven. We start with the highest level, called Olam Ha’atzilus, a state of pure G-dliness. Blessed is the One who spoke and the universe came into being etc.
Then we move to the next spiritual world, called “Olam Habriah,” where Hashem’s essence forms into His Middos through which He maintains our world. Blessed is He who rewards those who fear Him, Who lives forever, etc.
As we descend into the next level down, called “Olam Hayetzira,” the perspective starts to shift, and we start to take on the human/lower world perspective of the Creator. The Almighty, merciful Father… extolled by His people, praised and glorified by the tongue of His pious ones and servants etc.
The final descent is now the lowest spiritual world, the world we live in which is called “Olam Ha’asiya.” From our perspective the world is so concrete and absolute, that now we need to put in the effort to trace it back to its roots, to identify, reveal, and praise the presence of Hashem around us. Through the songs of Your servant Dovid we extoll You with praises and psalms; we will exalt, praise, and glorify You etc.
Moment of Mindfulness
As you say Baruch She’amar, follow the journey of Hashem’s presence leading from His thought, His thoughts to His utterances, and His utterances as they descend through the four spiritual worlds, becoming more and more detailed and concretized in the process, until it becomes YOU! Contemplate how every breath you take, and every moment of existence, is utterly dependent on Hashem’s word. Ask Hashem to help you trace the world back up to its Divine source, never becoming ‘stuck’ in the material world, the Olam Ha’asiya.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 24.