1 Likro et Hahallel
2 La'asot Ma'akeh
3 Hanoon Hamarbeh L'sloah
4 Al Nitilat Yadayim
5 Melekh Ohev Tzedakah U'mishpat
6 Dayan Ha'emeth
7 Leshev Ba'Sukkah
8 Lasok b'divrei Torah
9 Kiddush levana
10 Asher yatzar
11 Borei Pri Ha'eitz
12 HaMotzi
13 SheHakol Nihiyeh B'dvaro
14 Shehechiyanu
15 Lihitattef Batzitzit
16 Likboah Mezuzah
17 L'hadlik ner shel hannukah
18 She'asah nisim lavoteinu byamim hahem bazman hazeh
19 HaGomel L'Chayavim tovot, shegimalani kol tov
20 Malbish Arumim
21 L'hadlik ner shel Shabbat
22 Borei pri Hagafen
23 Hazan et HaKol
24 L'havchin bein yom u'vein layla
25 lhanot bahem b'nai adam.
26 borei minei mizonot
27 HaMachazir neshamot lifgarim matim
28 l'hachniso b'brito shel avraham avinu
29 al mikra megillah
30 shomeah tephillah
31 noten hatorah
32 sh'asani b'tzalmo
33 al biur hametz
34 al sefirat ha'omer
35 et amo yisrael bashalom.
36 Haham HaRazim
37 haolam Borei Minei Bisamim
38 matir asurim
39 shepratani meansho shel zeh
40 zokeif kifufim
41 HaBocher  b'amo yisrael b'ahava
42 hamavdil bein kodesh lechol
43 borei meorei haeish
44 magen avraham
45 shover oyvim umachnea zaydim
46 Mikadeish HaShabbat
47 boreh pri ha'adamah
48 al ha'aretz v'al hamazon
49 michayei HaMaitim
50 yotzer ha'adam
51 boneh berachamav yerushalayim
52 she'asani kirtzono

Bracha #26

This bracha is recited when a person is about to enjoy any type of cake including cookies. Though it is stretch to believe that God actually creates the vast types of cakes an cookies that exist, it is not to difficult to fathom that God has endowed humanity with a creative spirit that is capable of inventing such delicacies.

We live in a time of unprecedented choice. We can go to the supermarket and decide between hundreds of essentially the same product. There are at least 20 different types of production line cake products not to mention the fresh bakery section every supermarket now has. Enteman's and Friehoffers offer the exact same items, while Hydrox now has to compete with Oreo for their market share of the Kosher cookie segment of the population. All this and I haven't even mentioned Drakes cakes. There are food channels on cable television and some are devoted just to desserts.

The word "mezonot," types of nourishment is similar to the word Mazon as in the phrase Birkat HaMazon the grace after meals. (See bracha #23) In the Mishna (Ketubot 46b) there is wonderful discussion about this particular bracha. In that discussion the Rabbis try and differentiate between which foods require the bracha of HaMotzi and which foods require the bracha Borei minei Mezonot. The Mishna asks the question Ketzad Haiyav Mezonot, Over what do we say (the bracha) Mezonot? I would paraphrase that question and ask from what do we derive sustenance?

Do we derive sustenance from the three square meals a day? Do we derive sustenance from simply being able to place food on our tables, or does the human experience require diversity? We need a range of experiences in our lives. We can not live on a set routine that is never altered. We cannot wake each day eat the same food, go to the same places and interact with the same people without alteration. The human experience requires variation. Sure there are foods we enjoy more than others. We can all agree there are people we enjoy spending time with more than others. There can be no argument that there are things we enjoy doing more than others. But it is too easy to get into a pattern and become paralyzed by the mundane repetitive nature of our lives. There is a significant difference between a rut and a groove.

This bracha reminds us that variety is healthy. This bracha encourages us to try new things and bask in the glory of the choices we have been given and the alternatives we have created.

Copyright © 2001 Rabbi Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved.