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 #9

This bracha is recited at the appearance of the moon. Often this blessing is said with a minyan on the first Saturday night after Rosh Hodesh (the new month). The recognition of the moon as it reappears reminds us the world is magnificent and intricately designed suggestive of the fact that the existence of this world is no accident but rather testifies to the undeniable reality of a Creator with a plan. It is an acknowledgement of the ever-renewing character of the natural world. This bracha reminds us to take a moment, go outside and marvel in the glory of a cycle of the moon in its course in the sky. For the romantic there is great power and majesty in the moon. For the child there is wonderment and for the adult there is a sense of assurance that life continues. By going outside either with others or by ourselves we gain an appreciation for not just our world but for the universe in its infinity.

A young child going off to sleep away camp for the first time is nervous, turns to his mother and says, "what if I get lonely at night and I want to talk to you?" To which his mother responds, "go outside and look up at the moon and know that I am looking at the very same moon at the same time and tell me what ever you want." The moon simultaneously gives us a feeling of being so small while giving us feeling as though we are all connected.

This past week we commenced the cycle of reading the Torah. Again we start with the beginning. In the story of creation it is very clear the method with which God brings the world into being is through speech. As we paraphrase in the prayer known as Barukh Sheamar, which we say each morning, God spoke and the world came into being. The incredible power of the word is amplified through the story of the establishment of the world through simply talking, and this bracha highlights that process through emphasizing the power of language.

Prayer, in general and the bracha specifically remind us that we too can create with the service of our lips. We create a relationship with others and we maintain a connection with God through what we choose to say. We can on some level imitate God by using language that is constructive rather than destructive and we can thereby bring order out of chaos that might envelop us.

Copyright © 2001 Rabbi Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved. 

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