Our cure for sleep walking TB Berachot 54

There are three different categories of blessings. The first category are blessings we say before we observe a mitzvah. For example, before we light the Hanukkah candles we recite, “Praised are You Lord our God, King of the universe was made us holy through His commandments, and has commanded us to light the Hanukkah candles.” The second category are blessings on pleasures, ברכות נהנין. These are the blessings that we recite before and after we eat food or smell fragrant spices or flowers.

Today’s daf TB Berachot 54 introduces the third category of blessings. They are blessings of praise and thanksgiving.

“MISHNA: One who sees a place where miracles occurred on Israel’s behalf recites: Blessed…Who performed miracles for our forefathers in this place. One who sees a place from which idolatry was eradicated recites: Blessed…Who eradicated idolatry from our land. One who sees conspicuous natural occurrences recites a blessing. For zikin (comets) and zeva’ot (earthquakes), for thunder, gale force winds, and lightning, manifestations of the power of the Creator, one recites: Blessed…Whose strength and power fill the world. For extraordinary (Rambam) mountains, hills, seas, rivers, and deserts, one recites: Blessed…Author of creation. Consistent with his opinion that a separate blessing should be instituted for each individual species, Rabbi Yehuda says: One who sees the great sea recites a special blessing: Blessed…Who made the great sea. As with all blessings of this type, one only recites it when he sees the sea intermittently, not on a regular basis. For rain and other good tidings, one recites the special blessing: Blessed…Who is good and Who does good. Even for bad tidings, one recites a special blessing: Blessed…the true Judge. Similarly, when one built a new house or purchased new vessels, he recites: Blessed…Who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time. The mishna articulates a general principle: One recites a blessing for the bad that befalls him just as he does for the good. In other words, one recites the appropriate blessing for the trouble that he is experiencing at present despite the fact that it may conceal some positive element in the future. Similarly, one must recite a blessing for the good that befalls him just as for the bad.” (Sefaia.org translation)

The Gamara adds to the list an example of those people who need to thank God with birkat Gomel after escaping a dangerous situation with their lives. “Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Four must offer thanks to God with a thanks-offering and a special blessing. They are: Seafarers, those who walk in the desert, and one who was ill and recovered, and one who was incarcerated in prison and went out. All of these appear in the verses of a psalm (Psalms 107). The Gemara asks: What blessing does he recite? Rav Yehuda said: Blessed is…Who bestows acts of loving-kindness.” (Sefaia.org translation)

Far too often we sleep walk through our lives never paying attention to the beauty of our world and its daily miracles. Too many of us take everything in life for granted. All these blessings are meant to open up our eyes so that we may respond in gratitude to God for the world that He has given us for our benefit. As I have said and written so many times before, I believe that a gratitude attitude is the very foundation of a religious and spiritual life. No wonder our tradition asks us to recite 100 blessings a day in order that we remain awake to all of God’s glory and beauty in this world.