Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Elul 3, 5779

Our tradition teaches us that we should say 100 blessings every day. Thankfully, there is a blessing for just about everything in Judaism. We say blessings when we encounter a new experience, see the natural wonders of God’s world around us, before we eat, and before we engage in fulfilling a mitzvah. One of my favorite blessings happens to be the blessing before Torah study in which we acknowledge the mitzvah to engage in words of Torah. One can’t help but notice that the blessing does not obligate us to merely “study” Torah but rather to actively engage with words of Torah. The Torah is our guide to living a meaningful and purposeful life. Engaging in words of Torah inspires us to live our best selves. When we recite the blessing before Torah study we commit ourselves to do the work that brings more wholeness to the world around us. Blessed are You, Sovereign of the Universe, who commands us to engage in words of Torah. Now that we said the blessing, let’s make sure to fulfill the Mitzvah. 

Rabbi Matt Cohen

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