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 #47

This past spring I planted a garden fro the first time. I did everything you were supposed to do. I rotor tiled the soil. I fertilized. I planted and I watered. Now I have tomato plants, eggplants and pepper plants. A few weeks ago we picked the lettuce and it was delicious. Now the tomatoes are getting bigger and the I assume they will turn red soon. It is simply amazing to me. I never thought of myself as a farmer, but I guess I have a knack for this sort of thing. Now I find myself walking around the house inspecting plants I never cared for in the first place. I pull a dead leaf here. I stake a stem there. I am so pleased with myself.

I have heard so many stories about people who cannot grow a green bean. I suppose some of it is luck and some of it the work I have done, but the reality is it is God's plan. Though it is difficult to learn lessons about life and the nature of God's plan for a garden there are some applications that can be made. We can in our lives do our very best. We can eat right and we take vitamin supplements and still fall prey to illness. While others who seemingly ingest just junk food seem to thrive.

God has a plan and saying a bracha acknowledges our appreciation for just one aspect of that plan. This bracha, like #11 (borei pri Ha'etz) thanks God for bringing produce from the ground. This bracha is recited upon eating vegetables. Like many other brachot, this bracha is recited before the action.

It is amazing to watch food come from the ground. Children and adults alike marvel at the miraculous nature of nature and somehow the produce we bring forth with God's assistance tastes better. It seems more healthful and flavorful. Part of that is because of the work we have put into raising them. Part of that has to do with knowing what goes into growing it. Part of it is simply the excitement over the newness of the endeavor.

Many have gone apple or peach or tomato or blueberry picking. Many orchards have a rule that you can eat all you want while you are picking, though they ask you not to be wasteful. That fruit tastes better. The pies made from that fruit seem more wholesome, because we are a part of the process. In modern society we have become too distance from the source. We can have fruit that is "out of season" all year 'round, because it can be flown in overnight from all over the world. We have lost touch with earth and the soil and the roots of our agrarian past. This bracha reminds us of the reality that brings us produce. This bracha asks us to imagine ourselves as part of the experience and not just an end consumer.

Because we live in urban and even suburban areas we are physically removed from many aspects of the nature that support our existence. Some people enjoy going "back to nature" to reconnect. This bracha helps us do that daily without having to leave the comforts of our home.

Copyright © 2001 Rabbi Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved.