Q&A: The Institution of Blessings
The Institution of Blessings
Question
How could the Sages institute blessings in a way that goes against the Torah, if we maintain that “Do not take [God’s name in vain]” is Torah-level / of biblical origin? (Something like uprooting a matter from the Torah.) I’m asking, of course, according to the view of the Geonim regarding “do not deviate” [according to Nachmanides, it is unclear what he holds].
Answer
On the face of it, there is no issue here of “Do not take [the name],” since when one recites a blessing, taking the Name is not in vain. Indeed, some of the medieval authorities (Rishonim) understood for this reason that a blessing recited in vain is not a Torah prohibition but only rabbinic. But even according to those who hold that it is a Torah prohibition, that is because a blessing recited in vain is an instance of taking the Name in vain. But a blessing that is not in vain certainly does not involve taking the Name in vain, even without the Sages’ institution to recite blessings.
I did not understand what the connection is to “do not deviate,” nor what view of the Geonim you are referring to.