Quick Thoughts: Vital Testimony

~ Quick Thoughts ~
Vital Testimony
By: Daniel Listhaus

The Shulchan Aruch (O"C 268:7) writes that after the ma'ariv Shemoneh Esreh on Friday night the congregation repeats "Vayechulu" despite heaving just recited it in Shemoneh Esreh. The Shulchan Aruch offers two reasons for this: 

1. Because of Yom Tov that falls out on Shabbos and Vayechulu is not recited in Shemoneh Esreh
2. In order to be motzee one who does not know how to daven and did not recite Vayechulu

The Mishna Berura clarifies (268:7:18) that despite the fact that Yom Tov does not always fall out on Shabbos, it is important to repeat Vayechulu in shul each and every shabbos of the year so that when a Yom Tov comes around that falls out on Shabbos, and Vayechulu is not recited in the shemoneh esreh itself, that we will already be in the habit of reciting Vayechulu after shemoneh esreh. 

This is the importance attributed to Shabbos and to the testimony that Hashem rested after sheishes y'mei Beraishis. It is worth the "inconvenience" of repeating Vayechulu each and every shabbos of the year so that it becomes a matter of habit and we won't neglect to say it when it is not built into the shemoneh esreh. 

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