Beating Boredom with Blessings

Question

Dear Rabbi, I hope my question is not too basic. What’s the idea behind saying blessings? Thanks!

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    No sincere question is too basic or not worthy of asking and answering. A better understanding of many aspects of Jewish life and their application in our daily life is certainly a way to help enhance our quality of life in many ways.

    Many people seem to be bored with their lives. They often look for diversion. Therefore, many pursue “exciting” activities, such as swimming with sharks, bungee jumping and extreme sports. Others obsessively chase whatever is new — fashion, music, or high-tech gadgets.

    This boredom often stems not from a lack of novelty, but from a lack of appreciation of life itself and all the blessings of life. A person who takes pleasure in his very existence, who savors the beauty of the natural world and the richness of human relationships, is unlikely to be bored or take anything for granted. A young child finds the world endlessly fascinating; but too often the sense of wonder erodes in adulthood. Through the recitation of blessings, Judaism tries to help us retain this unspoiled perspective and increases our appreciation of the pleasure and wonder of life.

    Rabbi Yehudah Halevy, a 12th-century philosopher and poet, taught, “God wants us to rejoice in the good that He has given us, as the verse states, ‘you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given you.’”

    A crucial technique in achieving this goal is enhancing our awareness of what we really have. This is done by saying a prayer of appreciation to God before we benefit from His world and by thanking Him after we enjoy His blessings. These prayers are called berachot, blessings. If we go through each day, understanding the blessings that we recite, we can become happier, more generous people, grateful to God for all His goodness.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team