The Blessing of Being Intentional (February 2023)

What is the purpose of blessings? Our blessings usually begin with “Blessed are You, Adonai, Sovereign of the universe, for...” and we continue with the particular message of gratitude for God’s gift of life, food, well being, a rainbow, or whatever the instance is. Take the example of an apple or a piece of fruit, which we eat any time and especially on Tu B’Shevat (which we just celebrated yesterday), the Festival of the Trees. Do you say a blessing before you eat one?

Tu B’Shevat has evolved into a sacred celebration of nature, acknowledging with appreciation and gratitude for the fruit of the trees that help nurture and sustain us. The blessing extends beyond the simple act of eating a piece of fruit. Its intention is to stop us from eating without thinking, and this reminds me of a true story.
 
A friend once told me that she had missed breakfast that morning. When I asked if I could get her a bagel and some juice, she said no, that she had eaten breakfast but was in such a rush that she forgot she did it and “missed” it. She never smelled the aroma of her coffee and didn’t taste the sweet apricot jam on her toast. It seemed  to have disappeared from her memory of the morning.  
 
What does this teach us? Sometimes we have to slow down and experience what we are doing, rather than just go on autopilot and plow through unconsciously. A blessing first will heighten our senses to the process and maybe we won’t “miss” it. So next time you take a bit into an apple, say the blessing first, and then enjoy its color and aroma, hear the crunch, savor the flavor and really taste the fruit. Even after Tu B’Shevat!
 
Reminder: Zoom into my friend Dr. Dick Daffner’s fascinating presentation on the “Rightly Forgotten” tomorrow, Wednesday, February 8 at 7pm. See the E-News for a description.
 
And: Have you ever wondered how the Israelites made those curtains, coverings, and tapestries for the mishkan, all while traveling through the desert? My colleague Emily Howard Meyer, our guest on the Third Friday Zoom Shabbat service on Friday, February 17 at 7pm, will enlighten us!
 
B’shalom,
Cantor Rena