Now, what is the difference between bracha and chein? Chein is graciousness – we ask Hashem to treat us with graciousness. But not just that. In addition, we also ask that we find favor, grace, in the eyes of all the people we interact with – our family, friends, neighbors, strangers, etc. We ask that people like us, that others see us in a favorable way. That is because many times, it’s not just what we say or what we do that matters, rather it’s how others perceive what we do that is important. In this bracha we ask Hashem that whatever we do, be seen by others in the most positive way. But most especially, we want our actions to find favor in the eyes of Hashem.
How can we do that? How can we conduct ourselves so that we will find favor in His eyes? Chazal tell us that the more we acknowledge that we cannot function without Hashem, the more we acknowledge our dependence on Him, the more chein we will find in His eyes.
Sim shalom – Hashem grant us peace, grant us goodness, grant us favor in Your eyes and in the eyes of those around us – but do it with bracha – do it with abundance. We know that all things come from You, our every step, our every move, is only possible because You have helped us. We ask You to do for us because without Your bracha we could not function, we could not be whole. And we promise that on a daily basis we will count our brachos and acknowledge that they are gifts from You.
