What are Berachos?
Everything in this world belongs to the one above.
Once we accept the above information than we have to formulate a thank you that will be most endearing to the Almighty. Well, this heavy task was already formulated many years prior to today by our leaders! We can say thank you for what we receive in a most meaningful way to the one above. The Almight made it for us by his infinite wisdom and grand compassion. Look at the creations and ask yourself to whom was this made for? It was made for you! How great are the wonders of this world!
The human body has so many wonders and so does a plant, composition of all the chemicals, air,
insects, animal kingdom and much more. Everything belongs to Hashem (G-d). He is the owner of everything.
Every wonder is only made possible by the one above. He makes it and sustains it.
The human body is intricate in its many details. As Hagone HaRav Avigdor Miller z”tl has written sefarim on the topic. Hashem in his ultimate kindness made us with openings and closings in the same structure. We are a walking miracle! We have so much to thank Hashem. It is his ultimate kindness and compassion for us that all exists.
He loves us and continues to do for us always.
What is a beracha?
We thank the one above. We thank him as the king of the world. He created for us and continues to create for us so that we shall thank him for everything.
What do we say berachos on?
http://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Brachot
Brachot on Special Occasions
Shehecheyanu
Brachot on a nice smell
Brachot on Sights
Bracha For Seeing Natural Wonders (Oseh Maaseh Beresheet)
Bracha for seeing a rainbow
Bracha for a miracle
Bracha for an unusual creature
Bracha for good or bad news
Birchat Ilanot
Birkat HaLevana
Birkat HaChamah (Bircas HaChammah)
Food, mitzvos, events, scents, sights.
Food: Where did the food come from? Was it on a tree? Was it from a bush? Was it grown in Israel?
Events: Wedding, bris, , babby girl/boy, thunder, lightening, exiting from the toilet.
Scents: Havdalah –upon the completion of Shabbos we smell an invigorating spice. What happens when we smell a pleasant spice or flower and it gives us pleasure?
Sights: When we see a miracle. We may ask ourselves why did you merit to see something
and not your neighbor? Every thing in this world happens for a reason there is no coincidence. You were created for a purpose and everyone’s mission/task is different . When one instills in themselves a recognition of a creator and that you are the recipient of his absolute kindness it will fill your treasure houses with bliss. You are constantly being looked after and will be satiated. You are not alone for the creator is always creating for your needs constantly . It is for the special you that this world was created. The creator wanted you in his master plan!
After we acknowledge from whom the blessing was granted to we may partake from it.
By acknowledging this we are transcending a unique holiness to our mists.
How to say berachos?
Slowly and clearly.
Invest yourself into the outcome of your specialness.
If it is on food make sure it is kosher. Remember: kosher style isn’t necessarily kosher. Hebrew letters on a store or item doesn’t always translate as to kosher!
If you’re a man or boy a head covering should be worn. A head covering in Hebrew is yarmalka. This means that you fear the one above. The one above is giving you this necessity so that it is he that your thanking.
If it a food you place it in the right hand if you’re a righty and a left if you’re a lefty. The Sephardic custom is to put it in your right hand always.
Focus on the words. It should be said in Hebrew but if you are unable than use a translated version.
Awareness: Who are you saying thank you to? The king of kings! So be aware of your surroundings. Are you are standing near a fowl odor? Don’t thank him near the garbage can. You should be tidy. If your hands are dirty or you stepped in something smelly. Take a minute and get ready to present yourself in front of our king of kings.
Learn the particular blessing and after blessings you want to recite.
What is a beracha made on food called?
A beracha rishona.
This is said when even you eat a small amount of food or drink.
Rememmber: Whole foods take precedence over sliced foods. If you want to make a blessing on bread and you have a whole apple or a cut up apple which one do you recite the bracha on?
Yes, the whole apple.
What is the list order of the berachos?
Hamotzi- All bread products. First!
Mezonos- Eg.cakes, cookies,cereal Second
haGefen- wine,grapejuice. Third
Ha’eitz.-Items that grow on a tree.Eg. ( Apples,oranges) Fourth
Ha’adoma- Items that grow from the ground.Eg.(Potatoes.carrots )Fifth
Shehakol. Sixth
The seven species that are unique to only the land of Israel superceedes the 1-6 order. Hashem praised Israel with the following produce:
When having two items in front of you that require #4, Ha’eitz.-Items that grow on a tree, one needs to recite the blessing on the produce from Israel and partake from it first. You have an apple from Germany and a grape from Israel to which one do you hold in your hand and recite the blessing?
Yes , the grape from Israel takes precedence.
The seven species are:
Wheat
Barley
Spelt
Rye
Oats
Olives
Dates
Grapes
Figs
Pomegranates.