April 2024
We have everyday brachot — some recited once a day, some several times a day (e.g., before eating, or after using the toilet). And we have brachot that we get to say just once a year. Preparing for Pesach/Passover is an opportunity for the latter: We search for...
February 2024
Bracha/Blessing Judaism offers several blessings relating to separation: when “taking challa” — removing a small lump of dough from a reasonably considerable amount you’re using to bake bread; when a parent relinquishes responsibility (at least formulaically) for...
December 2023
On your doorposts… It’s not just college or high school kids; recently, an elderly woman told me she was uneasy about showing the star necklace she had tucked behind the placket of her blouse. However, she was still wearing it! There has been talk about removing...
November 2023
Why do we begin nearly everything (it seems) with borei pri hagefen, a blessing over wine?
September 2023
Wouldn’t you think that the blessing recited before blowing shofar on Rosh Hashana would be about making the sounds? After all, when you say a bracha over an action, such as for lighting Shabbat or festival candles, you are acknowledging the act; “…for being commanded to light candles for ______.”
August 2023
The American Goldfinch makes identification easy, even for non-birders (yours truly included). The small bird is a bright chartreuse yellow, with black yellow-edged feathers — beautiful.
July 2023
We have brachot/blessings for different kinds of foods: those that come from trees, from the ground (as in vegetables), liquids, dairy, eggs and meats, bread and baked goods other than bread. Some months ago, we looked at the “shehakol” bracha, the one that covers anything that isn’t tree-grown, ground-grown, bread or baked goods.
June 2023
Judaism provides a bracha/blessing for nearly every circumstance, from eating to studying Torah, from appreciating nature to using a toilet. Last time (now two months ago) we considered what to say when we hear of a death (“baruch dayyan ha’emet”). What do we say in...
April 2023
Judaism provides a bracha/blessing for nearly every circumstance, from eating to studying Torah, from appreciating nature to using a toilet. We know to say “mazal tov!” when we hear good news, such as an engagement, new baby, work promotion. When we hear not-so-good news, we’re often tongue-tie
March 2023
The Pesach seder is intensely hands-on: breaking matza, lifting kiddush cups and seder plate, juggling a haggada with the dishes, utensils, and other parts of the place setting, stealing the afikoman… Another hands-on feature of the seder is hand-washing, netilat...
February 2023
Almost two weeks ago, a bit before rosh chodesh Shevat, my brother in Jerusalem sent a photo of a tree abloom. Bracha time (for him)!
January 2023
Really? We have a bracha, a blessing, about using a toilet?! Well, yes, we have a bracha of appreciation for the workings of our bodies. This bracha, “asher yatzar,” is recited in the early part of every morning service. It serves there as an acknowledgement of our relative physical fragility, and as a blanket thank-you for the workings of our bodies.