OU TORAH ONE+ONE Leah By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz

Many have the practice to recite, in the prayer following Shemoneh Esrei, a verse that starts and ends with the same letter as their name, or that contains their name, or both. This is considered a source of merit. In this series, we will briefly analyze these verses. לַה’ הַיְשׁוּעָה עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶךָ סֶּלָה Salvation is Hashem’s. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah! – Psalms 3:9 The verse for the name Leah is probably familiar from the havdalah service at the conclusion of Shabbos. Rashi explains the verse to describe a “division of labor” between G-d and the Jewish people as follows: “Salvation is Hashem’s” – it’s G-d’s “job” to save us. “Your blessing is upon Your people” – conversely, the Jewish people are required to thank and praise G-d for His salvation. (This is a perpetual obligation as “selah” is understood to mean “forever.)