CURRENT TALMUD PASSAGE
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Posted January 5, 2009, by Rabbi Judy Abrams. Please refer
to Maqom's home page for information about previous passages.
BH
SAYING A BLESSING OVER EVERY MITSVAH
© Judith Z. Abrams, 2009
The sages created a system in which every mitzvah is preceded
by a blessing. These blessings serve as a R. Haggai and R. Jeremiah
went to a grocery store to inspect its scales for accuracy. R.
Haggai eagerly recited a blessing over this obligation to examine
the scales. He said the blessing,
"Who sanctified us with His commandments
and commanded us to sanctify the weights and scales and to establish
the measures." R. Jeremiah said to him: You have acted very
well. For blessings must be recited for the performance of all
the commandments. (Y. Berachot 6:1)
Discussion Questions:
- The first question that comes to mind is, why did this blessing
disappear? Do you like having a blessing to say over giving charity?
- One commentator says that the blessing Rabbi Haggai said
was, "Blessed are You, Lord our God, who has hallowed us
with commandments and commanded us to recrify the measures and
scales and to adjust the price." Do you like this blessing?
Do you have any alternatives?
- Are there other ³mitzvah activities² that need
a blessing (e.g., sex in marriage)? What are they and what might
the blessing be?