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 #52

Page 65 in Siddur Sim Shalom

The evolution of this bracha is a remarkable one that speaks to the importance of its message. Originally, this bracha was in a different form and may be easily recognizable to those who were raised saying this bracha. A generation ago this bracha was actually a bracha thanking God for either not making me a woman,(if said by a male) or who made me according to His will (if said by a woman). Truthfully, there is value in appreciating the other gender and realizing there are characteristics of that gender we are grateful we do not have. (Enough said.)As well, this bracha was grouped with a series of brachot in the negative. That is we would thank God for not making us a certain way instead of thanking God for making us the way God made us. There was bracha thanking God for not making us non Jews. It has been transformed to thanking God for making us Jewish. There was a bracha thanking God for not making us enslaved. Today we thank God for making us free.

Each bracha has been altered just little to make the experience of saying these brachot a more positive experience rather than focusing on the negative. This bracha is recited in the morning along with a series of fourteen other brachot that have come to been known as the Birchot Hashahar, the morning blessings. Some of these brachot have already been discussed in this space.

This bracha acknowledges how unique we are. This bracha, reminds us we have worth because are created in the image of God. This bracha asks us to analyze ourselves and in the process grow to understand God a little better. Brachot are supposed to force us to pause and delve deeper into the circumstance in which we find ourselves. Brachot in general, are supposed to give a greater appreciation for our world and our place in that world. This bracha is a specific application drawing our attention to the details of who we are in the hopes we can recognize God in ourselves.

The result is we may be harder on ourselves trying to reflect God image or we may give ourselves a break. Either result is a good one. Either perspective will make our lives better. This bracha asks us to evaluate how we view ourselves and ultimately, therefore, how we see others. The world was created by God. Whether we choose to admit to it or not, we mirror God. Hopefully, we draw God into our lives through replicating God's kindness and love. Confidently, we should make this world a better place or at very least see God's grandeur in it.

Copyright © 2001 Rabbi Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved. 

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