Berachot 37 - Changing Thanks

Rice and it’s role. According to the Master (“Mar”), if you chew rice, the blessing is borei prei ha’adamah (“who creates fruit of the ground”). But if it is ground, baked and soaked, the blessing is borei menai mezonot (“who creates various kinds of foods”).

Just interesting to see that the same ingredients can change category depending on how (or if) it is prepared. The source is the same, but our involvement changes it – which changes the way we acknowledge it before G-d. It not just about ingredients, it is also about our partnership with G-d in using those ingredients. You change what you have been given and that changes the way you give thanks.

Berachot 36 - Majority Rules

A discussion of what blessing is to be said over which specific foods. A side discussion compares this with the law of "orlah" - for the first three years of a fruit tree grown in the land of Israel, the fruit cannot be eaten. But some nuts and flowers may not be considered "fruit."

When the meal is made of several items, how do we know what blessing to say? A general principle is - when there is a main item and another item is taken as "accessory" the blessing is said for the main item and it serves for the accessory.

Even in food - majority rules!

Berachot 35 - First Say Thank You

The Mishnah takes up the subject of blessings before meals, which vary depending on the item eaten. The problem is, there is no direct biblical commandment for such a blessing. After a meal, it is clear - based on Deuteronomy 8:10 "When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you." But despite attempts to read it in, a textual basis for the blessing before a meal cannot be found.

Which leaves us with principle: simple gratitude. "If he says a blessing when he is full, how much more should he do so when he is hungry?"

Eating without saying a blessing is compared to stealing from G-d. First, acknowledge the source of your food - this specific meal (and every meal) begins as a gift from G-d.

"R. Akiba said: One is forbidden to taste anything before saying a blessing over it."

Which is a simple way of saying "Thank you."

Berachot 34 - Imposed Humility

Prayer choreography: during the “Amidah” prayer, one is instructed to bow at the beginning and end of the “Avot” (Patriarchs – we add Matriarchs]) and the “Hodaha” (Thanksgiving). That’s it – if you want to bow more often, you are instructed not to. However, according to Rabbi Joshua ben Levi, a Kohen bows at the end of each benediction. A king bows at the end and the beginning of each benediction.

The principle seems to be: the greater the position the more the person is humbled in prayer. I like this idea of imposing increasing humility – not professing it, but actually doing something physical which demonstrates it. Everyone is humble before G-d - some need it more than others.

A person without humility is described as a “dish without salt.” But someone who over-states their humility is compared to a dish which is over-salted. Even in our humility, we need to be properly seasoned!

Berachot 33 - Free Will

“Rabbi Hanina said ‘Everything is in the hand of heaven except the fear of heaven.’” This statement, (which is repeated in Megillah 25a, along with several paragraphs on this page) is a powerful acknowledgement of Free Will. We are created with certain qualities of character, but we are the prime determiners of that character. How we behave, the strength of our belief, our choice to do good or evil in the world – all is in our own hands. This human ability to choose is our most powerful personal tool and the path to finding meaning in life. Doing good would be meaningless unless we had the ability to choose evil. Approaching the High Holidays, this serves as a reminder: “Therefore Choose Life.” (Deut. 30:17)

Berachot 32 - Resisting the Evil Impulse

G-d alone is responsible for the evil impulse we all have. In fact by rewarding us with all the richness of life, we are tempted to believe we deserve more. It is the test of human character to see if we can resist that impulse. Gratitude, rather than arrogance, is the key.

Berachot 31 - Everything Has a Purpose

The story of Hannah (1 Samuel, Chapter 1) held as the example of a prayer of request - as often happens in Biblical stories: asking for a child. Her prayer is silent. But here the rabbis imagine her silent words:

Now Hannah, she spoke in (literally "on") her heart. R. Eleazar said in the name of R. Jose b. Zimra: She spoke concerning her heart. She said before Him: 'Sovereign of the Universe, among all the things that Thou hast created in a woman, Thou hast not created one without a purpose, eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell, a mouth to speak, hands to do work, legs to walk with, breasts to give suck. These breasts that Thou hast put on my heart, are they not to give suck? Give me a son, so that I may suckle with them.'