The Hebrew letters Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH) stand for the essential four-letter name of God (the Tetragrammaton) which we are forbidden to pronounce. YHVH is an acronym for yihiyeh, haya v’hoveh, which literally means “will be, was and is.” It is related to the Hebrew word havayah, meaning “existence/reality,” and the Hebrew verb l’hiyot, "to be." Therefore, in short, YHVH conceptually translates as the Timeless Ultimate Reality—the one who was, is and always will be, the source, ground and context of all being. These three words Baruch Ata YHVH—“Blessed are You, Timeless Ultimate Reality”—should knock us off our feet. How could we mortal, infinitesimal earthlings dare to address the Timeless Ultimate One and assert that we relate to YHVH as “You,” in a direct, personal and familiar way? Traditionally, we are not even supposed to address our teachers as “you.” Rather, we are supposed to speak in the third person: “How does the Rav feel today? What does the Rav think?” Yet in tefillah, we often refer to God as “You,” as if we were intimate friends. “Blessed are You, YHVH,” reminds us that the Timeless Ultimate Reality is not a lifeless, impersonal “It.” Rather YHVH is alive and personal. YHVH is here for us—ever present—and we can call Him “You.”