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What intention should one be having when reciting "baruch shem kevod malchuto le'olam vaed" in the shema?

Ani Yodea
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  • Related: https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/35663/what-does-baruch-shem-kvod-malchuso-lolam-vaed-mean?rq=1 – Isaac Moses Dec 24 '15 at 17:16
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    As with anything you are saying, you should focus on the meaning of the words, no? – Double AA Dec 24 '15 at 17:17
  • My understanding - One of the obligations of reciting shema is Kabalat Ol malchut shamayim - acceptance of the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. Within the phrase Baruch shem kvod malchuto we have the concept of malchut - kingdom. So, I think that's the focus of the concentration, here. – DanF Dec 24 '15 at 17:21
  • @DoubleAA, I have a siddur with English translation. I read the translation every single day and it still doesn't make any sense to me. Same with Boreh Nefashot - but that's another story. – Ani Yodea Dec 24 '15 at 17:28
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    @Ani Then see the linked question about what it means. – Double AA Dec 24 '15 at 17:31
  • I once tried to draft the main views as a proposed article for the synagogue magazine until the Rabbi showed me a book in Hebrew written only on this subject. I can't find the book through Google. – Avrohom Yitzchok Dec 24 '15 at 17:42
  • @AniYodea, how detailed an answer do you want? The intentions (כוונות) for Shema are one of the most detailed and involved that one can learn. Are you looking for a full-blown response or a general idea? – Yaacov Deane Dec 24 '15 at 21:40
  • @YaacovDeane, whatever you can offer will be appreciated – Ani Yodea Dec 25 '15 at 03:03

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In Hebrew it means: Bless the name of the kingdom of HaShem. That is if you translate Baruch to bless. There is another translation in Nefesh H-Chaim. "Baruch" means by Nefesh H-Chaim, to bring the "Shefa" (abundance) of hashem to the "lower" places. that the grace of G-d will come from him down to us. (I believe that many others translate Baruch like that) This translation comes from the idea that the word Baruch comes from an agricultural technique that's called "l-haBrich". This technique is to bend a branch into the ground. From this branch grows a new plant. Which means to take the "Shefa" of the father plant and to bring it down to earth and from there to create a new tree.

From Nefesh H-Chaim there is a new understanding: "to bring the "Shefa" (abundance) from the name of HaShem's kingdom to us."

Bracha and Hazlacha

Tomer
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  • This seems to be a translation or midrash on the meaning of the phrase, and not an answer to the question. – DanF Dec 24 '15 at 18:10