Q&A: God in Might? The King? Dwelling Forever?
God in Might? The King? Dwelling Forever?
Question
Why does the prayer leader begin with “Dwelling Forever”? And why with “The King”? And why with “God in Might”? Why is it sometimes this way and sometimes another way? And why specifically on the Sabbath “Dwelling Forever,” and on a Jewish holiday “God in Might”? You could just as well say the opposite, couldn’t you?
Answer
That’s the custom. If you want, let him start from the blessings over Torah study.
Discussion on Answer
I have no idea. Maybe because they had a nice melody for “Dwelling Forever.”
Sometimes in old prayer books, like the Vitry Machzor and HaRokeach, there are answers to these questions.
The reason the prayer leader begins from “Dwelling Forever” is that the Sabbath points to the creation of the world and the existing natural order; therefore they begin with “Dwelling Forever.” By contrast, on a Jewish holiday, which points to miracles, they therefore begin with “God in Might” (Akhami, sec. 71).
Another reason: since through the Sabbath we exalt and sanctify the Creator, therefore they begin with “Dwelling Forever” (the Rashbatz prayer book).
As for “The King” on the High Holy Days—there’s no need to explain.
What is “Akhami,” and what is the Rashbatz prayer book??
Lol. Does it look like I made up books?
Actually, I saw this in the book Lev HaMo’adim by Rabbi Yehuda Lev, and I cited the sources he gives there.
The question is why this became the custom.