The prayer Ana Bekoakh and God’s 42-letter-name TB Sanhedrin 101

 Out of respect for my father, I would never call him by his first name Bob. Similarly today’s daf TB Sanhedrin 101 teaches us never to use our Father in Heaven’s name disrespectfully. “The mishna teaches: Abba Shaul says: Also among those who have no share in the World-to-Come is one who pronounces the ineffable name of God as it is written, with its letters. It is taught in a baraita: This is referring to one who pronounces the name in the outlying areas outside the Temple, and in colloquial [aga] language, for no particular purpose.” (Sefaria.org translation)

But which of many of God’s names is Abba Shaul is referring to? According to Rashi he is referring to the Shem Hameforash, the 42-letter-name that was used only in the Temple.

This 42- letter-name is embedded in the prayer Ana Bekoakh which is recited right after Psalm 29 and right before Lekha Dodi in the Kabbalat Shabbat service.

“אָנָּא בְּכֹֽחַ גְּדֻלַּת יְמִינְ֒ךָ תַּתִּיר צְרוּרָה: קַבֵּל רִנַּת עַמְּ֒ךָ שַׂגְּ֒בֵֽנוּ טַהֲרֵֽנוּ נוֹרָא: נָא גִבּוֹר דּוֹרְ֒שֵׁי יִחוּדְ֒ךָ כְּבָבַת שָׁמְרֵם: בָּרְ֒כֵם טַהֲרֵם רַחֲמֵם צִדְקָתְ֒ךָ תָּמִיד גָּמְלֵם: חֲסִין קָדוֹשׁ בְּרֹב טוּבְ֒ךָ נַהֵל עֲדָתֶֽךָ: יָחִיד גֵּאֶה לְעַמְּ֒ךָ פְּנֵה, זוֹכְ֒רֵי קְדֻשָּׁתֶֽךָ: שַׁוְעָתֵֽנוּ קַבֵּל וּשְׁמַע צַעֲקָתֵֽנוּ יוֹדֵֽעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת: בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

Please, by the force of Your great right hand, release the bound one. Accept the prayer of Your people; strengthen us, purify us, Awesome One! Please! Mighty One, those who seek Your Unity, preserve them like the pupil [of Your eye]. Bless them, purify them, have compassion on them; Your benevolent righteousness [may You] always bestow upon them. Mighty, Holy One, in Your abundant goodness, lead Your community. Unique One, Exalted, turn to Your people who are mindful of Your holiness. Accept our prayer and hear our cry, [You] Who knows hidden thoughts. Blessed [is His] Name, Whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.” (Sefaria.org)

“The Ana Beko’ach prayer, formed by Rav Nehonia ben Ha Kana between the first and second century, is considered one of the most powerful prayers for connecting us to the power of creation.

“The kabbalists explain that each time we recite the Ana Beko’ach, we return to the time of creation, and each time we meditate on a particular sequence, we return to the original uncorrupted energy that built the world. By performing the Ana Beko’ach meditation, we enrich our lives with unadulterated spiritual Light and cosmic energy.

“The Ana Beko’ach prayer is considered one of the most powerful prayers for connecting us to the power of creation."

“The Ana Beko’ach is hidden within the first 42 letters of the book of Genesis, beginning with the word bereshit and ending with the word vavohoo. Referred to as the 42-letter name of God, the source of the efficacy of this prayer is indicated to us by where it is revealed in the Bible – at the very beginning, in the story of Creation itself.

“The Ana Beko’ach is constructed of 7 lines that are related to the seven days of Creation, the Seven Sefirot, and of course, the seven days of the week. Each line is comprised of two three-letter sequences – 6 letters per line. With the exception of the second line – which spells Kra Satan, meaning to “tear out Satan” – none of the sequences spell actual words. According to the Zohar, the Hebrew letters represent a source code of all of physical reality. The Ana Beko’ach, or the 42-letter name of God, is considered to be the code that was used to create the process by which Creation happens.” (For the rest of the article which is very interesting follow this link: https://www.kabbalah.com/en/articles/kabbalah-on-ana-bekoach/)