...Continued from previous week
1) The Talmud (Berachos 53b) teaches that the person answering Amen is greater than the person reciting the initial Bracha.
Furthermore, the Talmud (Shabbos 119b) states that one who answers Amen with all his strength (which means "full concentration" according to Rashi, and "in a loud voice", according to Tosefos; both aspects according to Rabbeinu Yonah in Sefer Hayirah) merits having the gates of Gan Eden opened up for him/her.
2) Another thing the Talmud (ibid.) teaches is that one who answers "Amen Yehei Shemai Rabba" with all their strength will merit having bad heavenly decrees against them ripped up. (The Zohar, Parashas Emor states that he will merit having 70 years of bad decrees ripped up!)
There are many more such wonderful Maa'marei Chazal regarding the beauty and power of answering "Amen". There are many great contemporary Sefarim and books dedicated to this subject and all are encouraged to read up on this topic as best as they can. (One fascinating book about the power of Amen is called "Serenade The King")
3) One Posuk in Tehillim (24:1) says "L'Hashem Ha'Aretz U'MeLoah - the earth and all its contents belong to Hashem".
Another Posuk (Tehillim 115:16) states "Hashamayim Shamayim L'Hashem, V'HaAretz Nasan L'Bnei Adam - the Heavens are for Hashem and the earth was given [by Hashem] to mankind".
This apparent contradiction is explained by Chazal (Talmud Brachos 35a) as follows: Before one recites a blessing on any enjoyment on this earth, the thing he/she is enjoying belongs to Hashem, and if utilized it is as if he/she desecrated something holy.
After one recites a Bracha and expresses thanks to Hashem for this earth and its worldly pleasures, then Hashem gives it to mankind to utilize and enjoy.
4) It is due to the aforementioned explanation that Chazal instituted Brachos to be recited before enjoying virtually all pleasures that mankind can enjoy on this earth (waking up, wearing clothing, eating, drinking, smelling something nice etc.).
5) The morning blessings, collectively referred to as "Birchos HaShachar", that we recite each morning, were initially instituted to be recited as each pleasure was being experienced (e.g. "Elokai Neshama" was to be recited upon waking, "Malbish Arumim" was to be recited upon getting dressed, "PoKeach Ivrim" was to be recited upon rubbing one's eyes, and so on until all the Birchas HaShachar have been recited). (See Talmud Brachos 60b)
6) However, for various reasons the Minhag nowadays is to recite them all together when one is ready to begin davening Shacharis. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 46:2)
7) Although the Birchos HaShachar contain very specific, personal sounding Brachos, it is important to keep in mind that they were also instituted as a general giving of thanks to Hashem for providing all of mankind's needs.
Therefore, every Jew may recite all the Brachos upon waking up in the morning, even those that may not pertain to them personally (e.g. one who slept clothed can still recite the blessing of "Malbish Arumim", as it is a thanks for Hashem's providing clothes to mankind and not only for your clothing this particular morning; one who walks barefoot can still recite the blessing of "SheAsah Li Kol Tzorki", as it thanks Hashem for providing shoes for mankind, and isn't referring only to your own shoes; one who is blind R"L can still recite the blessing of "PoKeach Ivrim", as it thanks Hashem for allowing mankind to see [and thus others can help him get around], and isn't only referring to his own eyesight, and so on for all the brachos. Ruling of the Rama Siman 46:8 and Mishna Berura S"K 25. The Mechaber in Shulchan Aruch Siman 46:8 rules that the brachos that don't apply to you should be recited without Shem U'malchus; Sephardim follow his ruling)
8) One who was awake the entire night is not obligated to recite the following 3 Brachos, and may therefore not recite them by him/herself, and should rather try and hear them from someone else who is reciting them and thus be exempted:
- "Al Netilas Yadayim" (Unless the restroom was used before davening)
- "Elokai Neshama"
- "HaMaavir Sheina M'Enai".
(See Mishna Berura Siman 4 S"K 30 and Siman 46 S"K 24)
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
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