A Soulful Journey

Take nothing for granted.  All life is a gift - from we water we drink to the fruits we consume; from the clothes we wear and the fragrant smells of the grasses.... "Any person who takes something from his world without attribution, saying a prayerful blessing for the gift, is as if they have stolen from God, Himself."  - Talmud, Berachot 35b Thank God. Literally.

The very first book of the Talmud is called Berahot. "Blessings," and in one of its opening passages, a rabbi asks his students how they can tell when the night has ended and the day has begun (in which case it is time to recite the Shema). "Could it be," asked one of the students, "when you see an animal in the distance and can tell whether it's a sheep or a dog?' "No." answered the rabbi. Another asked, "Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it is a fig tree or a peach tree?" "No again." replied the rabbi. "Then when is it?" the pupils demanded. And the sage answered, "It is when you can look at the face of any man or woman or child and see that it is your sister or brother. Because, if you cannot see this, it is still night." Rabbi Jack Reimer

Our Rabbis have taught: It is forbidden to a man to enjoy anything of this world without a benediction, and if anyone enjoys anything of this world without a benediction.” –Berachot 35a

Rav Judah said in the name of Samuel: To enjoy anything of the world without [reciting] a blessing is like making personal use of things consecrated to heaven, since it says: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”  (Psalm 24:1) Talmud, Berachot 35a