Appreciation in the Siddur: Sheasah Li Kol Tzarchi (2)

There is something unique about the berachah of She’asah li kol tzarchi, “Who has provided me with all my needs.” Most of the berachos in Birkas HaShachar are expressed in general terms, such as Pokeach ivrim and Malbish arumim. Yet this berachah is expressed in the singular, thanking Hashem for providing me with all my needs. Why is this so?

Rav Chaim Kanievsky explains that each of us has our own unique purpose in this world, and Hashem provides us with precisely what we need to fulfill it. This also explains why the berachah is expressed in the past tense, unlike many of the other morning berachos. Even before we were born, Hashem had already determined our individual mission and the resources we would need to accomplish it.

This understanding carries a beautiful lesson for our daily lives. At times, we may look at others and wish we possessed their wealth, intelligence or abilities, imagining how much better our lives would be. Yet Hashem, in His infinite wisdom, has given each of us the particular gifts and circumstances we need to fulfill our own purpose. As Chazal teach, “No person can touch what has been designated for another, even by a hair’s breadth” (Yoma 38b).

Why, then, did Chazal associate this berachah specifically with putting on our shoes? Rav Zusha of Anipoli offers a beautiful explanation. A person may own the finest, most expensive pair of shoes, but if they are too big or too small, they will be uncomfortable. Only when the shoes fit properly can they truly serve their purpose. Similarly, everything Hashem gives us is perfectly tailored to our individual needs.

When we internalize this idea, we can find greater contentment and happiness in our lives. Rather than constantly wishing for what others possess, we can learn to appreciate our own unique gifts and abilities, recognizing that Hashem has entrusted each of us with a mission that no one else can fulfill.