We have many specific brachot and some that paint with a very broad brush. Specific? Viewing a rainbow, or seeing a head of state. Broad? Wonders of nature, or seeing unusual creatures (hmm … by whose definition?).

The month of Cheshvan is almost over, but it’s not too late for the month’s bracha: שֶׁהַכֹּל shehakol. It is recited over foods that don’t fit a more defined category such as baked goods or tree fruit.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱ’לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הַעוֹלָם שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיֶה בִּדְבָרוֹ
baruch atta adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam shehakol nihyeh bidvaro

Praised are You Adonai our God, sovereign of all time, who created everything with a word.

Yes, everything! You’ll remember that in the origin of species description in Genesis/Bereishit, God creates by saying “Let there be…” and there was.

You’re probably familiar with the motzi blessing that’s recited at the beginning of a meal that includes bread (coming up in a few months). There are other blessings for foods that grow on trees (fruit) or from the ground (vegetables), and a special bracha over wine or grape juice (but not grapes). Also, baked goods get a dedicated bracha.

For foods that don’t fit those general categories, shehakol has you covered! shehakol: When you’re facing a food of unknown provenance, or an eclectic salad or a vegetable soup with croutons or…give שֶׁהַכֹּל shehakol a try. You might not be absolutely right, but you will have expressed appreciation for the broad range of foods available to us. Through that bracha, we applaud God’s inventiveness and are thankful for our God-given curiosity and wisdom that lead us to continually devise new flavors and textures with those foods.

(b’tei’avon)בְּתֵּאָבוֹן ! bon appetite