Each and every morning, we start our day with Birchos Hashachar – fourteen different brachos. Usually, we run through them automatically, without paying too much attention. Which is, of course, a pity. When I actually looked at what I was saying one morning, I was taken aback.
First of all, despite my fluent Hebrew and my ability to translate each individual word, I wasn’t sure I knew what the brachos were talking about! I found this to be both humbling and disturbing. Am I so Jewishly unknowledgeable? It sure looked like it! So the next morning, I decided to say them slowly and pay attention – and here’s what I came up with. It may not be exactly what (or not all of what) Chazal had in mind, but I hope G-d will accept my humble, very personal commentary. After all, like Chana, we women are enjoined to pray from the heart. It begins in the heart, is fed by the mind and is then sent up and outward on its journey through the lips. So here is what my heart and mind and lips had to say. You are welcome to add your own explanations.
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the Universe… (Imagine! Here I am speaking to Hashem Himself! And He’s listening! Can you believe it??)
…asher nasan la’sechvi vina…who has given “the rooster” understanding. Sechvi means “rooster” but it also means lev – a heart, the source of our thoughts and feelings. Human beings can distinguish between “day and night” – i.e., between good and bad. We are not robots. We can think. We can know things. We can understand, weigh and decide. What a priceless gift!
… sheh’lo asani goy…who did not make me a gentile. I was born into royalty. Part of G-d’s Chosen People. I stood at Sinai! Me! I could just as easily have been born to a gentile mother and then where would I be? Out of the circle of G-d’s Splendor!
…sheh’lo asani aved… who did not make me a slave. I am free – physically, emotionally, spiritually. Not only was I born a free woman in a free country, I am also free to attempt to plan and live my life. As a Jew, I am free to serve my G-d.
… sheh’asani kirtzono… who has made me according to His Will. Wow! Do you know what the “Will” of G-d is? It is His very Essence. I have been made according to the very essence of G-d. If that is not an awesome thought, I don’t know what is! I am an image, a clone, a replica, a hologram… a tiny, infinitesimal microchip of the Divine! And I was made exactly the way G-d wants me to be! (Of course I have to work on it, mind you. It’s a heavy responsibility. And it’s not automatic, but it is programmed into the genes.) Overwhelming!! (Men can analyze their own bracha. This is being written for women!)
… pokeach ivrim… who opens the eyes of the blind. Imagine waking up to a black world. You can hear, smell, feel – but there’s nothing to see. I cannot even imagine it. Just the thought sends shivers down my spine. It reminds me never to take sight for granted. Physicists may describe light waves and biologists may explain the neural intricacies of the eyes and brain, but sight is still an unexplainable miracle and gift. But we have to keep our spiritual eyes open as well, because they can also be “blind.” A prophet was called roeh – one who sees. Do we see?
…malbish arumim… who has clothed the naked. G-d made the first suit of royal clothing ever designed for Man/Woman. He made them Bigdei Or – Clothes of Light, to protect our inner beauty, pride and Divinity. We’ve been trying to improve on Divine fashion ever since, but it often seems that the more we improve, the more the light is dimmed.
…matir assurim… who releases those who are bound. We’re all bound, prisoners of circumstances beyond our control or of our own making. Aren’t we lucky that no matter what situation we find ourselves in, there is always One who can release our bonds? Nothing is fixed or hopeless. HKB”H always hears our prayers and requests. Sometimes, His answer is Yes. Sometimes, it’s No. Or Not Yet. But His eyes are always upon us and His ears always open.
… zokef k’fufim… who makes upright those who are bent. I call this the MTB bracha – for Muscles, Tendons and Bones. When my back hurts, my legs ache or my shoulders are tight, this is the bracha I think of. And when we bend under the weight of the burdens we carry, G-d can lighten our loads and help us stand upright. We were made to walk straight, proud and erect, facing the heavens, not looking down at the ground like an animal. Our physical stance is a manifestation of our spiritual grandeur! (It helps us remember that our mothers were right – if we slump, we look like a nebbish!)
… rokah ha’aretz al hamayim…who spreads out the earth upon the waters. Did you know that all land masses on Planet Earth are sitting atop deep, subterranean waters? Yet we don’t sink. Except for calamitous occurrences like earthquakes, the land stays solid and steady beneath our feet allowing for life to exist in an orderly fashion. Imagine trying to live on a constantly swinging, swaying, unreliable surface. Like quicksand! I think we’re supposed to apply this to our spiritual frame of mind as well. There is Someone out there who is in charge.
… sheh’asa li kol tzorki… who has provided me with every need. Hmm… have to work on that one. I mean, isn’t everyone missing something? Some people seem to be missing a lot of somethings. But think about it. We have so very much. Perhaps if we don’t have something, we don’t really need it?
… ha’meichin mitz’aday gaver… who prepares and makes firm the steps of man. Where will our steps take us? Will they support us? Be sure and firm? Will we reach the place we wish to reach? G-d is our Divine crutch, forever supporting, guiding, helping.
… ozer Yisrael bi’gevurah… who girds Israel with might. Might. What a glorious word. It is one of the descriptions accorded to G-d. It gives me the courage – and strength – to gird my own loins and to advance, grow and progress. In hard times, Am Yisrael is clothed in Divine armor, strengthened with Divine Might. Without it, we would be unable to survive.
…oter Yisrael b’sif’arah… who crowns Israel with splendor. Wow! I have to take a deep breath for this one. I, personally, am absolutely undeserving of any crown, let alone a Crown of Splendor. I am humbled beyond words. But this Crown is not a personal one for me. It is for my people, Am Yisrael, G-d’s children. Baruch Hashem, as one of them, I too am granted a drop of royal splendor.
…ha’nosen la’yaef koach… who gives strength to the weary. As an experienced Expert in Weariness, I can only say “Thank You!” for this blessing. I need every drop of strength I can get.
Now stop for a moment and think. G-d blesses us with fourteen different blessings. He gives us the ability to think, chooses us to be His People, makes us free, creates us according to His Divine Will. He gives us sight, provides protective and royal clothing, releases us from all the many forms of bondage. He stands us up and keeps the world firm and steady. He provides all our needs, guides us, makes us mighty and significant, crowns us with splendor and gives us strength.
I ask you, is this or is this not a great way to count your blessings and start your day? Have a good one!
