|
Circle
of Blessing
Back
to Emet Articles
This
is a teaching Rabbi Dani'el gave on the Torah reading V'zot HaBerachah,
(This is the Blessing) found in Deuteronomy Deut. 33:1-34:12.
V’zot
HaBerachah is the last section of the annual Torah reading cycle. And
what a year it has been! We began our journey through the Torah by learning
about Adam and Chava in the Gan Eden. Our reading continued with the ark
building of Noach, the faith of Avraham, the testing of Yoseph, and the
call upon Moshe. We midrashed about the horrible slavery inflicted upon
the Hebrew people. Moreover, we discussed their eventual exodus out of
Egypt and the giving of Torah at Mount Sinai. In the scrolls of Vayikra
and Bamidbar we gained knowledge of various guidelines concerning everything
from what believers are to eat to how to properly offer sacrifices. And
in the sefer Devarim, Moshe reviewed the mitzvot and lead the children
of Yisra’el to the Promised Land.
Now, the entire Torah ends eerily similar to the way the book of Genesis
ends – with a blessing being spoken over the 12 tribes of Yisra’el. In
Beresheet, it is Ya’acov blessing his sons. In Devarim, each tribe is
set apart by Moshe. The end of the Torah is just like the beginning of
the Torah. Similarly, in the synagogue, the first chapter of Genesis is
traditionally read along with our current portion. The conclusion of one
reading cycle and beginning of another happens on the same day. This symbolizes
a renewed submission to the devar YHWH (word of YHWH). For in essence,
the Torah reading series never really ends. It starts over at the end.
It continues. Like a circle that has no start or finish, our study of
the Torah should be continuous. “I declare the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,” said YHWH in
Yesha’yahu 46:10.
Moshe’s last words in our parasha are a proclamation that echoes through
time. He begins with praise to YHWH and then describes the current circumstances
of each tribe of Yisra’el. His words also contain prophecy of the nation’s
future. We can learn much about the concept of blessing from Moshe’s “b’racha.”
Speaking blessings, or brachot in Hebrew, is one of the main elements
in Hebraic worship. It is the way that one stays in constant fellowship
with Elohim. “Bless YHWH, oh my soul: and all that is within me, bless
his holy name,” says Tehillim 103:1. This practice is different from the
Catholic and Christian act of blessing crosses or food. We aren’t to bless
items, but YHWH. The Bible teaches that when the whole universe was created,
it was blessed by Elohim and declared “tov” or “good.” The world doesn’t
need to be blessed over and over again because it is already good. Saying
a blessing isn’t magic that turns a pork chop dinner into a kosher meal.
Blessing a sinner doesn’t cleanse a sinner. Biblically, we aren’t to bless
the creation, but the Creator. Brachot are prayers that lift up and magnify
the name of YHWH.
Speaking a b’racha establishes a person’s proper perspective. It declares
that YHWH is the King of the universe. He is blessed. He is praised. This
is vividly illustrated in the opening words of our parasha,“ b’racha Moshe
ish Elohim barak bnai Yisra’el.” Translated, “And this is the blessing,
wherewith Moses the man of Elohim blessed the children of Israel.” The
word “b’racha” is not a verb describing an action. Instead, B’racha, the
word for “blessed,” is an adjective describing YHWH as the Supreme source.
He is exalted. He is blessed. The word “b’racha” is derived from the Hebrew
root bet-resh-kaf, meaning, “to bend the knee.” Subjects bend their knees
in honor and respect to a King. Each time we say the word “baruch,” we
are to be reminded of the Kingship of YHWH. It wouldn’t hurt to start
bending our knees as we pray, as an act of submission to his ruling.
During prayer, when one says “baruch atah YHWH” or “baruch Hashem YHWH,”
one is expressing how praised and exalted YHWH is. The Talmud teaches
that this proclamation of Yah’s greatness is to be uttered regardless
of hearing good news or bad news. We are to bless YHWH always. The story
is told of a man who once asked Rebbe Elimelech, "How is it possible
to bless Elohim for bad news with equal fervor as for good news?"
The Rebbe replied, “Go to the study hall and ask your question to my brother,
the saintly Reb Zusia." When the man laid his eyes on Reb Zusia,
he could easily imagine the suffering this man must have experienced in
his lifetime. The pain of illness and poverty were etched on his face.
The man proceeded to ask: "How is it possible to bless Elohim for
bad news with equal fervor as for good news?" Reb Zusia's reply:
"Why are you asking me? How do I know the answer? Nothing bad has
ever happened to me!"
Speaking blessings helps the believer view all of life’s events as neither
good nor bad. Everything that happens is an opportunity for the Light
of YHWH to shine and man to learn from YHWH. The Creator is blessed and
exalted, regardless of the circumstances of man. The more one repeats
this truth, the more one believes it.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for
this is the will of Elohim,” 1Thessalonians 5:16-18. This Newer Testament
quote is in agreement with the Talmud in Menacoth E:18 that says “man
is bound to say one hundred blessings daily.” How is this so? In Devarim
10:12 it is written, “and now Yisra’el, what does YHWH your Elohim require
of you?” The word for “what” can also be interpreted to mean “one hundred.”
From here, the Rabbis have declared that man is to speak at least 100
blessings a day. This might at first sound crazy or legalistic. But, just
imagine how a person’s outlook on life would change if one would be in
prayer all day, praising YHWH for the good, the bad, the mundane, and
the extraordinary.
Judaism has hundreds of blessings, composed for every event of life. Orthodox
Jews do not find it odd to recite praise as they eat various foods, see
a beautiful scene of nature, or even use the restroom. "There are
basically three types of berakhot: ones recited before enjoying a material
pleasure (birkhot ha-na'ah), ones recited before performing a mitzvah
(commandment) (birkhot ha-mitzvot) and ones recited at special times and
events (birkhot hoda'ah). Many of the berakhot that we recite today were
composed by Ezra and the Men of the Great Assembly nearly 2500 years ago,
and they continue to be recited in the same form. All berakhot use the
phrase "Barukh atah YHWh Eloheynu melekh ha-olam," Blessed are
you, YHWH our Elohim, King of the Universe. This is sometimes referred
to as shem u'malkut, the affirmation of Elohim as king," says one
web site. Indeed, every blessing should include a reference to YHWH as
king. Even the Moshiach said to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will
be done, on earth as it is in Shamayim."
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” says Mishlei 18:21.
As we speak blessings we support the life of faith. Torah teaches that
the wise person speaks blessings continually. “The tongue of the wise
brings healing,” Mishlei 12:18. The scriptures also say in Mishlei 15
that a wise or righteous person speaks the right things at the right times
and these words are pure and pleasant. Depressed? Sick? Worried? Begin
to speak blessings and experience life anew. Mishlei 15:4, says the “tongue
that brings healing is a tree of life.”
The story is told of a student named Yahuda who travled a great distance
to see a famous Rabbi. When he arrived on Friday morning he immediately
went to see the Rav. As soon as Yahuda walked into the room, the Rabbi
asked him not to stay for Shabbat. Yahuda was shocked. “But, rebbe, I
have come so far. Is there any way I can spend Shabbat with you? The rebbe
looked at him with sad eyes. “The truth is, my young friend, I see death
surrounding you, and it seems that you are destined to die this Shabbat.
It would be better for you to go to a small village and die there.” The
man was heart broken. He had one more day to live. He took up his bags
and dragged himself out of town.
While on the road, Yahuda encountered a wagon loaded with students of
the Torah. They were singing loudly and having a wonderful time. The wagon
stopped when they saw him going away from the city. “Friend,” they yelled
out, “you are walking the wrong way. The Rabbi is this way. Come with
us.” Yahuda turned slowly, and sadly said,” I cannot go. The Rebbe has
turned me away.” The students surrounded him, “But why?” This was astonishing.
The rabbi had never sent anyone away. Yahuda told them that he was going
to die and that the Rav had told him to find a small village. The students
at once said, “Nonsense. You do not have to leave. Why should you die
all by yourself, where you don’t know anybody? Maybe the rebbe was worried
that it would ruin our Shabbat. But it won’t. Come. If you have to die,
do it at the rebbe’s table. This way, if you get sick, and need help,
we will be there to hold you up. Come, friend, do not worry about a thing.”
So Yahuda joined this singing group and climbed into the wagon. They started
toward the town, and one of the students said to Yahuda,” Friend, as long
as you are going to die, if you have any money, we could use something
to drink to keep us all warm.” Indeed, he did have money. They stopped
at the first store and bought a great deal of wine. Each time someone
lifted his cup, he turned to the benefactor, Yahuda, and cried, “L’chaim,
l’chaim, may you live a healthy, long life. “ One after another of these
blessings rang out. Yahuda actually began to get rosy in the cheeks. He
forgot what the Rabbi had said. Actually, everyone was having too much
fun to be thinking about death. And so, round after round, the blessings
poured in for him.
They arrived at the Rabbi’s home in a very happy state. When Yahuda once
again went to greet the rebbe, the great Rabbi looked at him with amazement.
The rebbe’s large eyebrows arched, and he said, “It is wonderful, my young
friend. The Angel of Death is gone. What a rabbi cannot do for his students,
his students can do for one another with their blessings of l’chaim.”
Praise
to YHWH and blessings to man restores life. Moshe Rabinu understood this,
as his last dying words were not sermons but blessings. Midrash Rabbah
claims that Moshe was continuing the tradition of blessing, practiced
by Ya’acov. “Now when Yitzchak blessed Ya’acov he said to him, And YHWH
Almighty bless thee (Genesis 28:3). How did he conclude his blessing?
With calling: ‘And Yitzchak called Ya’acov, and blessed him.’ So Ya’acov
too began where his father left off, as it says, ‘And Ya’acov called his
sons.’ Ya’acov ended with ‘this ' when he blessed them, as it says, and
this is what their father spoke. And so Moshe too, when he arose to bless
the tribes, began where Ya’acov had left off, as it says, ‘And this is
the blessing wherewith Moses the man of Elohim blessed,’ etc. Wherewith
did Moshe conclude? ‘With Happy art thou, O Israel,’Deut. 33:29. And so
when King Dawid came to Israel, he began where Moses left off, as it says,
Happy is the man (Ps. 1:1).’” From this quote, we can see that Yitzchak
blessed Ya’acov, who blessed his 12 sons. King Dawid continued Moshe’s
blessing of the tribes. Now, we have the same opportunity of carrying
on this custom. By incorporating into our everyday lives the practice
of speaking blessings, we too can experience the faith of our fathers.
*for all things spiritual go to www.emetministries.com
Back to Emet Articles
|
