Most (but not all) Siddurim have the פסוק of ויהי נועם at the end of הנני מוכןs (such as before ספירת העומר, before the ארבע כוסות, or before בדיקת חמץ).
Where does this practice come from and why is it done?
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1The title asks why it's said (seeking a reason), and the question asks where it comes from (seeking a provenance). Which do you mean? Or both? – msh210♦ May 17 '11 at 14:59
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@msh: Both, ideally. – SLaks May 17 '11 at 15:06
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We're talking about before ספירת העומר, right? – jake May 17 '11 at 15:25
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1@jake: Among other things. For example, before the ארבע כוסות, as well as ביעור and בדיקת חמץ. – SLaks May 17 '11 at 15:38
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1It would be good to include this clarifying and contextual information into your question. – Isaac Moses♦ May 17 '11 at 16:56
The pasuk of ויהי נועם concludes, not the הנני מוכן exactly, but more specifically, the paragraph of לשם יחוד. This paragraph states intent to perform the mitzvot in conjunction with uniting the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Sh'china. This is a Kabbalistic declaration, in accord with the customs of the Ari.
I'm certainly not qualified to answer Kabbalah questions, so I don't know the reason for concluding that paragraph with ויהי נועם.
In Sephardic congregations, there is a similar paragraph before Shacharit, Mincha, and Arvit, as well as before Birkat HaMazon and other mitzvot.
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I think that's exactly it. Moshe said this pasuk to ask that "the Shechinah should rest on the work of your hands" (Rashi to Ex. 39:32), so when we invoke the "unification of G-d with His Shechinah," we ask for the same thing. – Alex May 19 '11 at 15:04
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I think it's to help us to accomplish the mitsva this passuk has been said by Moshe Rabbenu (to be confirmed) but I cannot remember the reasons :(
The Mishna brura in Hilkhot Shoffar relates a story that one Tokea didn't manage to blow Shoffar then said this passuk and the sound goes.
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