Brachos
We pull together the threads of the Ve'Yehi Ratzon paragraph at the end of Birchos HaShachar (the morning blessings), and see how the theme carries through from the opening to the closing of the Bracha — and, in fact, right through the full set of brachos.
ויהי רצון מלפניך…שתרגילנו בתורתך…הגומל חסדים טובים לעמו ישראל
What in the world is a "Yeitzer", anyhow?! In the ViYehi Ratzon paragraph at the end of Birchos HaShachar (the morning blessings), we express our real desire to make good decisions and take the right actions throughout the day, and pray that Hashem will assist us. ויהי רצון מלפניך…שתרגילנו בתורתך…הגומל חסדים טובים לעמו ישראל
It's like deja vu all over again... The blessing "HaMa'avir Sheina" in the morning echoes the blessing of "HaMapil" upon going to bed. What is so important that we need to bracket our day — morning and night — with it? This couldn't harken back to the Garden of Eden, could it…? המעביר שינה מעיני ותנומה מעפעפי
It's like deja vu all over again… The blessing "HaMa'avir Sheina" in the morning echoes the blessing of "HaMapil" upon going to bed. What is so important that we need to bracket our day — morning and night — with it? This couldn't harken back to the Garden of Eden, could it…? המעביר שינה מעיני ותנומה מעפעפי
Discover a bracha that inspires on every level -- physically, emotionally, spiritually. In this blessing, composed in parallel to the nineteenth blessing of the Amidah (Shmoneh Esrei), we thank Hashem for continually giving us the energy to persevere, to make it through another day, to keep the faith in hard times. ברוך הנותן ליעף כח
We thank God for crowning us with glory — with the ability (and opportunity) to let our humanity rule our animal tendencies, and to let a sense of higher spiritual morality rule our intellect. עוטר ישראל בתפארה
Did you know that Eliyahu HaNavi's belt was made of leather from the ram sacrificed at Akeidas Yitzchak? And why does that matter? Join us for a thought-provoking session that reaches literally from one end of history to the other…
We thank Hashem for giving us the strength to unite our head with our heart, and utilize our human strengths to control and thus sanctify our animal instincts. This is demonstrated with the belt -- which ties together, draws close, unifies and strengthens; while also dividing and restricting. אוזר ישראל בגבורה
In this blessing, we thank God for the delightful destiny He offers us in the harmony of individual free will choice married to God's guidance and support. (Be careful not to step on the roosters!) המכין מצעדי גבר
"When he ties his shoes he should say, 'Blessed is He who has supplied all my wants.'"(Berachos 60b) How do shoes inspire us to thank Hashem for providing us with everything we need? What spiritual purpose do shoes serve — why are we sometime commanded to take them off; why are we sometimes supposed to wear them? We review the references to shoes in the Torah, and learn that shoes enable and epitomize Process, Going, Walking, Achieving — the very actions that define a person's life as a "mehaleich" in this world. ברוך שעשה לי כל צרכי
Hashem establishes the solid ground over the fluid waters of the deep, and in doing so, demonstrates for us the ongoing need to set limits on our behavior in order to channel and shape our drive into productive service of Hashem — creating a positive state of Shalom, peace. רוקע הארץ על המים.
Handout: Zokeif Kefufim
G-d straightens the bent — he is the source of dignity and optimism even under the crushing weight of oppression. Our free will — to rule our passions or be ruled by them — empowers us to elevate our own stature in the face of all adversity. ברוך זקף כפופים.
God frees the imprisoned — He releases us from the paralysis of sleep, allowing us freedom to move, grow, progress and accomplish. He releases us from the paralysis of the Yetzer Hara, allowing us freedom to move, grow, progress and accomplish. We discover the parallels of our individual goals in this world, Yosef HaTzaddik’s (Joseph’s) trailblazing example, and the loving gift of the toil imposed by the sin in Eden.
Clothing serves both to protect the body from the elements, and to dignify and glorify the body ("לכבוד ולתפארת"). In these two ways, clothing also serves as our tool for achieving our goals of emulating Hashem even post-Eden. Follow the trail of clothing in controlling the Yetzer Hara — the garments that God provided to Adam and Chava; passing through Nimrod, Esav and Yaakov; picked up again by Yosef / Mrs. Potifar and Yehuda / Tamar; and back via the Meraglim (spies) — and you will have a whole new depth of meaning in your heart when you thank Hashem for his chessed of clothing the naked — מלביש ערומים.
There is more than one kind of vision, and more than one kind of blindness. The Hebrew language of Torah distinguishes between them, providing us with new appreciation for the gifts of sight — and insight. פוקח עורים.
“…for creating me in accordance with His Ratzon.” What is the nature of “Ratzon”? How does it serve as an interplay reflecting the love between the Jewish people and G0d? And what makes a woman more naturally aligned with Hashem’s Ratzon? Join us this week, and you’ll find that Ahavas Hashem (love of God) begins with saying: “If it’s important to You, it’s important to me”. שעשני כרצונו
Continuing from the questions of last week, we look anew at this set of three (four) berachos through the lens of the state of humanity after Adam and Chava (Eve) sinned by eating from the Tree of Knowledge.
Listen in for a whole new layer of meaning to the Birchos HaShachar, and an enhanced appreciation for the gift of having a relationship with G-d. שלא עשני גוי - שלא עשני עבד - שלא עשני אשה - שעשני כרצונו
A session of questions: How are we to understand this set of three (four, when we speak of the woman’s beracha, “She’asani Kir’tzono”) berachos? Why are they expressed in terms of the negative? How are we to be grateful for what we are not? And if everybody and everything in Creation has a unique and necessary purpose, why would we suggest that some are “better” than others? Stay tuned for next week as we continue with a session of answers! שלא עשני גוי - שלא עשני עבד - שלא עשני אשה - שעשני כרצונו
Handout: Map for Brachos
We look at the meaning of the first of the fifteen berachos that comprise Birchos HaShachar, and in analyzing each word carefully, come to a deeper appreciation of our capacity to sense subtle distinctions between day and night, wrong and right אשר נתן לשכוי בינה להבחין בין יום ובין לילה.
Handout: Baruch Atta Hashem Sheet
We broaden our minds to awareness of God’s power and rulership.
We continue with the formula for berachos, learning about the Inexpressible Name of G-d, and heightening awareness that we are in a constant and personal relationship with our Creator.