Thursday, June 11, 2009

100 Blessings: Website of the Week

I often teach about the value of counting one's blessings. Indeed, our tradition mandates that we recite 100 blessings every day. The number was derived from Deut 10:12, "Now Israel, what does God ask of you." Some reinterpret the word "what" (mah) as "100" (me'ah) to answer the question. God demands that we get down and give 100 - not push ups, but blessings.

This Orthodox website, http://www.meahbrachos.com/ actually counts them out for you, by presenting charts which list all the blessings recited at a given service (blessings are liturgical phrases that begin, generally, with "Baruch ata Adonai," and then adding to that blessings typically recited at meals and for witnessing natural phenomena.

Take a look at the charts and try to figure out where you might find 100 blessings in your day - and how, by doing that, each day can become all the more meaningful for you, and each moment imbued with sanctity.

A little commercial... by coming to our morning minyan, you can knock off a good 25 or so of them without batting an eye. 7:30 on weekdays, 9 on Sundays. It's a regular bless fest!

And tonight I've gotten off to a good start. I'm starting my Friday with eight blessings already - one for each Red Sox win over the Yankees so far this season!

No comments: