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 #49

Page 156 of Siddur Sim Shalom

The prayer book and the variety of brachot that are found within it address and stem from a mindset that may not incorporate modern sensibilities. That is, people at different times in history believe different things. That is the reason for the discrepancy in the translation. The bottom line is we don't like the idea of resurrection of the dead. In an age where Christianity is one of the most dominant religions in the world, resurrection of the dead resonates most strongly surrounding Jesus.

That is why the translation of Sim Shalom draws our attention to the fact that God is the master of all and away from the idea that God has the ability to revive the dead. I would suggest that one of the goals of prayer and possibly that of any bracha is get us to believe something we might not otherwise believe. Prayer helps us to expand our belief system to incorporate (some would say inculcate) ideas that are not readily acceptable to our system of logic.

This bracha, the second bracha of the Amidah, thanks God for reviving the dead. One authentic voice in our tradition suggests that God will bring back the dead with the Messianic age. At some point in the future based on how we have behaved in this world, God will bring us back at some point in the future. This bracha is recited three times a day every day of the week, every day of the year and on somedays it is recited even more times.

This bracha reminds us that we must continually expand our thoughts and our beliefs. If we are going to be alive and vibrant than we must be open to ideas that might not immediately conform to our sensibilities. If we are able to be hear new ideas then we can truly breath life into our existence. Whether we appreciate the "new" translation or the more traditional, is irrelevant. What is important is that we begin to let our tradition begin to influence our thoughts and our system of faith.

I believe God has a plan and that God has the ability to execute God's plan. I also believe that our sages have had glimpses into that plan over the course of time, and that we have been privileged to benefit from that insight. Is this a realistic addition to the canon of Jewish religious thought? Certainly it is possible. You make the choice.

Copyright © 2001 Rabbi Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved.