Blessings

Shemot:

The Nile and the source of blessing

There is a struggle here over the source of shefa - the flow of blessing - in the world.

Torah Mitzion: Parashat Vayechi

"And let them multiply abundantly like fish, within the land"

The Midrash identifies Manasseh and Ephraim not only as concrete individuals, but also their descendants Yehoshua and Gideon. What is that based on?

Parashat Vayetzei:

The first time G-d spoke to the Patriarchs

It was not about Kashrut or Shabbat or prayer, but something deeper and more pervasive.

Parashat Re'eh:

A blessing and a curse

An enlightening look at commentators through the centuries on the question of the wording of the verses on the blessings and curses regarding Torah observance.

Parashat Re'eh:

Do we need Blessings and Curses?

There are material consequences in addition to the spiritual ones that ensue from one’s embrace or rejection of Torah.

'Hashem will bless you and multiply you'

Great good awaits those who toil in the ocean of the oral Torah - as well as those who go in the way of עקב: fulfilling all the mitzvot.

Parashat Nasso:

The ultimate Blessing of Peace

The words of the Blessing of the Kohanim reverberate.

Parashat Naso:

Turning blessings into meaningful brachot

There are many potential factors that could rob a person of the full benefits of the numerous blessings that might have come his way.

Parashat Naso:

When G-d shows His love

Every time the kohen steps up to the podium, raises his arms, and locks his fingers, G-d’s passionate love for us is aroused.

Haftarah for Shmini:

Who may bless the congregation?

We yearn for the day - just as David did – when God will grant us respite from our enemies. But now, when we are fighting for our nation's life, may a Cohen who is a combat soldier in the IDF bless the congregation?

The blessing of “Matziv Gvul Almanah”

The blessing should be recited over homes in regions where significant effort is still required to uphold the mitzvah of settling the Land, such as homes along the northern border, and near the Gaza Strip—especially when residents return after an extended period of abandonment. (At end: microwave ovens on Pesach)

The power of Blessings and Curses

The power of blessings is greater than the power of curses and a parent’s blessing for their child has a particularly strong impact. The Torah prohibits cursing someone, wishing for their death, illness, or other misfortune.

Eretz Yisrael in the Torah:

The numerous names of Eretz Yisrael

Relgious Zionist Torah scholars research connections between the weekly Torah readings and the Holy Land.

Torah Mitzion:

Voice of Jacob, hands of Esau

The focus of the blessing given to Jacob, when disguised as Esau, is materialistic. In contrast, the focus of the blessing given to Jacob at the end of the Parasha is spiritual.

Parashat Ekev:

"Now O Israel! What does Hashem ask of you?

Reading Rabbi Lazer Gurkow's article this week informs us as to the outcome of reciting blessings. What do the commentaries add to explain the injunction to say 100 blessings each day?

Parashat Ekev:

Count your blessings

Without G-d, we are mah—nothing. With G-d we are meah—part of everything.

From Nova Festival to Western Wall:

Heroes from Nova massacre recited 'Hagomel' blessing

Rami Davidian, who saved dozens from 10/7 massacre: 'For us, this marks the closure to thank the Almighty here for the miracle of being here and for the privilege of saving many youths.'

May G-d make you like Ephraim and like Menashe

Which brother comes first and what is the deep message hidden in the order of their names?

The three blessings of the first night of Hanukkah

May we quickly merit to see light triumph over darkness.

We fed the crocodile for too long: Israel's mission today

Maybe Rivkah didn't want to deceive her husband, she just wanted Jacob to display another side.

Toldot: The material and spiritual missions and their blessings

Isaac had hoped that cooperation would be possible between his two sons. It was not to be.

Ki Tavo: Remembering to bless God

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: What is the purpose of all of these blessings the rabbis told us to recite? 

Why Israel must reclaim its soul now

The Split In Israel: Hatikvah Vs. Bentching. What does one have that the other doesn't?

Naso (Diaspora): The Kohen's power

When kohanim offer their blessing, they must clear their minds and focus solely on being a channel through whom the blessing flows.

A natural blessing is preferable to a revealed miracle

As the reliance on miracles rose, calamities approached. Op-

Eretz Yisrael in the parasha: Only the land of Israel rests

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars explain the connection between the parasha and the Holy Land.

The blessing over trees and kashering the kitchen for Pesach

Kabbalists emphasized the importance of the blessing in the month of Nissan specifically. How to kasher the kitchen for the holiday.

Birkat Ha'Ilanot:

The rare blessing that is recited once a year

The Blessing on the Trees is recited once a year during the Jewish month of Nisan, which began Thursday.

Laws of the blessing upon eating bread and mezonot

Bread is a general term for satisfying food, therefore its blessing exempts the rest of the food in a meal.

Blessings over enjoyment and gratitude

A person full of gratitude is a happy person whose gaze is focused on the good in his life.

Eretz Yisrael in the Parasha: What is the meaning of 'morasha'?

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars connect the parasha to the Land of Israel.

Shemot:Making it good

In Jewish law, we bless on the bad as we bless on the good. That is imitating God.

Yaakov Avinu: God is my shepherd

Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh,Alshich Hakadosh, Malbim and others on the double clause in Yaakov's blessing to his beloved Yosef.

Vayechi: Tying up the loose pieces

Some of the "final words" and "small print" at the end of the contract ending the book of Bereishit.

May you be like Ephraim and Menashe

Yaakov’s blessing to his grandsons Ephraim and Menashe and a lesson for our lives.

Jacob blesses Pharaoh - does Pharaoh realize why?

Though Jacob lived a stormy and often tragic life, it is he who blesses Pharaoh for Jacob possesses the gift of the future and immortality.

The "everything" blessing: Shehakol

Hagit Rein, whose son fell in Lebanon - his story can be read on a lookout over northern Israel - wrote Rabbi Lundin about this blessing.

Vayetse: You can only win the lottery if you buy a ticket

“Open for me just the space of the eye of a needle and I will expand that to be the space of an entire hall.”

Eretz Yisrael in ParashatToldot: The Shechinah's wandering

Does the Shechinah leave Eretz Yisrael? If so, why?

We want Esau’s hands

Yaakov is the idealistic, ethical voice, but can he make it in the real world?

Chayei Sarah: Formidable women

Sarah is the woman of iron that acts to guarantee the future survival of the Jewish people.

The vision of the State of Israel

The vision God assigned to the Jews in their land is to bring blessing to all the nations through institutions and self-improvement.

A blessing and a curse

Torah Commentators expound on the way that the mitzvahs can be a blessing or a curse.

Blessings over landscapes and animals

Blessings over seeing certain phenomema are said after a lapse of 30 days. One example of the halakhot in the article below.

America's six guardian angels

Roe v.s. Wade falls: The six judges reasserted classical morality in 2022 and for this, may God bless them! Opinion.

The significance of unity in the land of Israel

Only when Am Yisrael returns to its full vitality in Eretz Yisrael, is the Divine flow of life to all things activated.

Yitro: Blessings on Miracles

Israel's first Cheif Rabbi: 'A blessing for a miracle must include recognition of the benefits of the miracle’s accompanying details.'

Weekly Torah Study: Vayechi

What does it mean when Jacob says the angel who saved him should bless his grandchildren?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

What is your greatest blessing?

You might think it is the greatest blessing if your children are blessed, but there is a step beyond that.

To life! Lechayim!

Some Hebrew words never come in the singular. One of them is "Chayyim" - life.

Humility, the greatest blessing

Yaakov Avinu, whose name ‘Israel’ we so proudly bear, truly lived the injunction of the prophet: (Micah 6:8):’Walk humbly with Hashem...’.

The Blessing of Isaac, and the war on the wicked

​​​​​​​Isaac wanted to bless Esau because he feared Jacob would not be able to stand alone in the face of the forces of evil.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Jewish history in a nutshell.

Two blessings that appear beside one another in Hashem's words to Avraham are a synopsis of what keeps happening to the Jewish people.

The blessing of the trees, and the Mikvah attendant

Birkat ha-ilanot symbolizes the abundance that Hashem gives us beyond the basic necessities. The balanit should be careful not to overstep.

An additional parashah

Jethro well deserved a parashah being named for him, not just for his advice but for what his behavior exemplified.

The Mikveh and the purifying power of water

Immersion in water symbolizes the Divine grace granted to all equally, similar to rain that falls on all creatures, adding blessing to life.

Kingship in Israel

Jacob’s blessings may pertain not to the end of days, but to events throughout Jewish history, such as King David and Judah Maccabee.

Blessing our children

My wife and I bless the children every Friday night with the words in this Torah reading followed by the Priestly Blessing.

Jacob's fishy blessing

A thought for Parshat Vayechi 5781 to share with youngsters.

The blessing we want for our grandchildren

Ephraim and Menashe. How is it that when we lay our hands upon our sons and grandsons' heads to bless them it is these two names we name?