What exactly are we asking God to bless us? TB Baba Batra 17

 With today’s daf TB Baba Batra 17 we finish the first chapter of our massekhet. The Torah says that “ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל-YHVH had blessed Abraham in all things.” (Genesis 24:1) Previously different sages explained what exactly had God blessed Abraham. The conversation continues on our daf.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שְׁלֹשָׁה הִטְעִימָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה מֵעֵין הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, אֵלּוּ הֵן: אַבְרָהָם, יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב. אַבְרָהָם – דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ: ״בַּכֹּל״. יִצְחָק – דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ: ״מִכֹּל״. יַעֲקֹב – דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ: ״כֹּל״.

“Incidental to the discussion of the verse “And God blessed Abraham with everything” (Genesis 24:1), the Gemara states that the Sages taught: There were three people to whom the Holy One, Blessed be He, gave already in this world a taste of the World-to-Come. They are: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham, as it is written with regard to him: “And the Lord blessed Abraham with everything (בַּכֹּל)” (Genesis 24:1). Isaac, as it is written with regard to him: “וָאֹכַ֥ל מִכֹּ֛ל-And I have eaten from everything” (מִכֹּל) (Jacob beat his brother Esau by presenting his father with the stew his mother prepared. After he had eaten everything, Esau entered with his stew for his father and Isaac said that he had already eaten from everything -gg) (Genesis 27:33). Jacob, as it is written with regard to him: “Because I have everything (כֹּל)” (When Jacob returns home after an absence of 21 years, he meets up with his brother Esau who had promised to murder him on account of stealing his blessing from Isaac. Jacob prepares a lavish gift as a peace offering. Esau wants to return it for is no longer necessary, Jacob refuses and says that he has all that he needs. gg) (Genesis 33:11). This teaches that already in their lifetimes they merited everything, i.e., perfection.

“There were three people over whom the evil inclination had no sway. They are: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as it is written with regard to them, respectively: “"בַּכֹּל", "מִכֹּל", "כֹּל"-With everything,” “from everything,” “everything.” The completeness of their blessings means that they did not have to contend with their evil inclinations.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Anybody who recites the full grace after meals, the phrase "בַּכֹּל", "מִכֹּל", "כֹּל"

will resonate. We ask God to bless us with the following blessing:

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אוֹתִי (וְאֶת־אִשְׁתִּי/בַּעֲלִי וְאֶת־זַרְעִי) וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לִי.

May the Merciful One bless me, my spouse, my children, and all that is mine;

אוֹתָֽנוּ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לָֽנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּרְ֒כוּ אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ, אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב: בַּכֹּל, מִכֹּל, כֹּל, כֵּן יְבָרֵךְ אוֹתָֽנוּ כֻּלָּֽנוּ יַֽחַד, בִּבְרָכָה שְׁלֵמָה, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:

Ours and all that is ours— just as our forefathers were blessed— Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— In all things, “From everything,” and “With everything”; so may He bless us, all of us together, with a perfect blessing and let us say Amen.

Thanks to our daf we know exactly what blessing we are asking for. We are praying that are evil inclination will have no control over us and consequently, we shall merit to taste the World to Come in this World just like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.