11. After Kerias Shema of Shacharis, we say 16 expressions which affirm that what we said in Kerias Shema is true. What do these 16 expressions correspond to? (ואני תפלתי, עמ' 105)
12. How many times do we say the word “emes — it is true” in “Emes V’yatziv” until “Ezras,” and how many times in “Ezras” until “Ga’al Yisrael”? And what do they correspond with? (ד"ה ועברתי בכל ארץ מצרים תשכ"א)
13. Why do we not say “Vehu rachum yechaper avon — and He is merciful, and forgives sins” during Ma’ariv of Shabbos? (ב"י סי' רל"ז בשם הכלבו. טור סי' רס"ז)
14. Why do we not recite a blessing every Shabbos: “Who commanded us to eat the 3 meals” of Shabbos — just as we recite a blessing on Pesach: “Who commanded us to eat matza”? ("אור זרוע", הל' ברכת המוציא סי' קמ)
Answers
11. They correspond to the 16 pesukim in first 2 sections of Kerias Shema (including “Boruch Shem”).
12. We say the word “emes — true” 4 times before Ezras, and 4 times after. The Rebbe explains (based on the Zohar) that they correspond to the 4 expressions of geula, and the 4 letters of Shem Havaya, the idea of which is “truth.” These 4 expressions apply to both the exodus from Egypt, and the final redemption. But by the exodus from Egypt, it was “the lower Shem Havaya” that was revealed, and by the final redemption it will be “the higher Shem Havaya” which will be revealed. The first 4 expressions before “Ezras” correspond to the lower level of Shem Havaya, and the 4 expressions after “Ezras” correspond to the higher level of Shem Havaya.
13. (1:) “Vehu Rachum — and He is merciful” is recited before Ma’ariv because Ma’ariv corresponds to the offering of the limbs of the afternoon Korban Tomid, which was sacrificed at night, to atone for the sins of the day. Being that this was not done on Shabbos eve, we do not say “Vehu Rachum” then. — Beis Yosef
(2:) When Beis Din would administer lashes for a sin, it would be done before Ma’ariv. When they would lash, they would recite the passuk, “vehu rachum” etc. Therefore, on Shabbos, when lashes are not administered, we do not say Vehu Rachum. — Tur
14. The “Ohr Zarua” explains this in 2 ways:
(1:) Because there are times when one is not obligated — such as if they are full, or if they are not accustomed to eating more than once a day — and we will not rule that certain people should recite the blessing and certain shouldn’t, for the same act.
(2:) Because we do not recite a blessing for any mitzva not fulfilled as one continuous sequence. This is also why we do not recite a blessing over the 4 cups of Pesach — because there is long interruption between each cup.
