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May 2007
A Blessing on Your Head
In one of the most colorful scenes in the movie A Fiddler on the Roof, the lead character Tevye fabricates the spirit of beloved Grandma Tzeitel who, he tells his wife, comes to him in a dream. “A blessing on your head, mazel tov, mazel tov. To see your daughter wed…,” Grandma Tzeitel sings to Tevye. Elsewhere, when Tevye’s family gathers for Shabbat, the parents bless their three daughters, chanting a slightly modified version of Judaism’s Priestly Benediction. “May the Lord protect and defend you,” they pray together. These blessings, among dozens uttered by Tevye throughout the movie, point out the significance of blessings in Jewish tradition. In fact, as an observant Jew, it is likely that Tevye followed the custom of saying a minimum of 100 brachot (Hebrew for blessings or benedictions) each day. Blessings are a form of prayer and in Jewish life, many blessings begin with a phrase that both acknowledges and praises God simultaneously. For example, the well-known blessing before eating bread states, “Blessed are You, Adonay, our God, Ruler of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.” One explanation for reciting blessings so frequently is this: In Deuteronomy, 100 curses are listed which will befall the Jewish people if they abandon their practice of Judaism. Reciting the blessings, it is said, helps to offset the curses. According to Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, in his reference book Jewish Literacy, many blessings still used today were created some 2,000 years ago when the Jewish people were under Roman rule. By assigning responsibility for all creation to God, Telushkin explains, “it helped inspire ancient Jews not to be overawed by Rome’s technological and military might.” In addition, it brought God’s name and presence to people’s consciousness often throughout the day. In the modern world, blessings serve a similar function, reminding us to stop for a moment to acknowledge or appreciate things in life. From the most expected and mundane, such as turning on the faucet for a drink of water, to a particularly beautiful sunset that leaves us in awe, it is useful to consciously take notice that such things are part of our life. Offering blessings – verbal gifts – for special occasions are a contemporary use of a Jewish tradition. Personal blessings can be tailored to suit the particulars of the recipient’s life, notes Nechama Tamler, a Jewish educator who has created blessings for friends and family. Tamler recalled an especially meaningful blessing offered to a newlywed couple whose bi-coastal jobs found them spending undue amounts of time flying. The person offering the blessing asked for the airline industry to have an unusually safe year. Tevye had a personal blessing too. “May God bless and keep the Tzar… far way from us.” « Back to Newsletter | Next Article »  |
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