“G‑d has given us a fragrant spice called Shabbat—we need to prepare ourselves for the Shabbat!”
-Alter Rebbe Levi Yitzchak
Daily Reading of the Ketoret
Towards the end of our daily prayer service, we recite “Kaveh,” which includes the “Ein K’Elokeinu” prayer as well as “Pitum Ha’ketoret,” which discusses the incense offering that was brought in the Beit Ha’mikdash which is the Ketoret.
The Abudarham (commentary to the Siddur by Rabbi David Abudarham, Spain, 14th century) offered a pneumonic to help remember the sequence of verses in “Ein K’Elokeinu”: “Amen-Baruch-Ata.” The letters of “Amen” (Alef, Mem, Nun) represent the first three verses: “Ain K’Elokeinu,” “Mi K’Elokeinu” and “Nodeh L’Elokeinu,” which are followed by “Baruch Elokeinu” and “Ata Hu Elokeinu.” Thus, the pneumonic “Amen-Baruch-Ata” is a convenient method of remembering this prayer.
Rabbi Chayim Palachi (in siman 17:16-18) elaborates on the importance and value of reciting “Pitum Ha’ketoret” (listen to audio for precise citation). He writes that this recitation has the power to ensure that one’s prayer will ascends directly to the Almighty unharmed by the Mekatregim (prosecuting angels). And in earlier generations, communities would read “Pitum Ha’ketoret” when a plague struck, as this recitation has the capacity to bring an end to even the deadliest plagues. Rabbi Palachi emphasizes the importance of reciting this section slowly and from a Siddur; a person who recites “Pitum Ha’ketoret” rapidly forfeits the immense spiritual benefits of this prayer. In addition, he cites from the work “Me’il Tzedaka” that one should try to obtain a piece of parchment with the “Pitum Ha’ketoret” written on it in the script of a Sefer Torah. Reading this section from such a parchment has the power to earn a person wealth and to guarantee a consistent and comfortable livelihood. Finally, the Zohar comments that if we were truly aware of the greatness of the Ketoret, we would put a crown over each and every word of this section, in order to demonstrate the immense value of its recitation.
Summary: One must ensure to read the “Pitum Ha’ketoret” section slowly and from a Siddur; one who reads it quickly and carelessly forfeits its immense benefits. Preferably, one should obtain a special parchment with this section written on it in the script of the Sefer Torah and read the “Pitum Ha’ketoret” from this parchment every day.
After the daily prayer of HaKetoret during the week we then on Shabbat smell all the amazing flavors of the Shabbat table and of Shabbat itself Havdalla (the emd of Shabbat ceremony) we smell it all in the form of Ketoret. Essentially all week we prepare for Shabbat by reciting the prayer for the Ketoret slowly during the week daily and end it with the smelling of the Ketoret. This is almost like Shabbos never ends even during the week. It is the Ketoret that keep us connected to Shabbat. Sages tells us that when we recite the HaKetoret prayer during the week and at end Shabbat with smelling the ketoret we are in fact on a spiritual level experiencing the burning of the Holy Temple Ketoret continuously without ceasing just like the children of Israel experienced in the wilderness. The haMikdash burned the ketoret incense without ceasing and extra compound of the dry material were put on the alter of incense to burn through Shabbat.
ROLL ON BLUE BOTTLE -5ml Ketoret Besamin- 11 Shemin Temple Spices Biblical Ketoret – Traditional and historical incense from the bible as described in Exodus
