Oseh Shalom
 
Moshe Ben-Chaim
 
 
Question: At the end of the Kaddish and ritzeh, we say oseh shalom...What is the source of this and is it Torah or Rabbanic in nature? Is there a direct source from which it is taken.Thank you.
 

Mesora: It is taken from the book of Job, Chap. 25, verse 2. Bildad was one of those trying to explain away Job's great misfortune, and claimed, "(Who) creates peace in the heavens", meaning, according to the commentators, that heavenly bodies operate without flaw - without change in their circuits.
 
This statement must be a praise and not a request, as we concluded the "request" portion of prayer 3 prayers earlier, and we do not ask for other requests once that portion is concluded.
 
I didn't find a reason given for our enunciation of this concept. Perhaps we say this upon conclusion of the Shmoneh Essray for the reason that just as creation is perfect, so we state that God makes man's existence perfect. Perhaps our witnessing of corruption in the human race tricks us into thinking that corruption is due to God. Not so.
 
We state that God makes peace in heaven and upon us, thereby enunciating that God's plan is cohesive, consistent, and perfectly righteous, and corruption is really man's. As we depart from God and reenter our earthly matters at the conclusion of prayer, we must leave prayer with correct notions. Perhaps this is why this statement is inserted at this point.


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