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Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy

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fter listing the seven fruits of baking” (Shabbat 74b). One might commands: “And you shall remember
Israel, the Torah (Devarim 8:9– assume that fruits, created entirely by the L-rd your G-d, for He is the one
A10) describes Israel as “a Land G-d, are holier than bread. Yet it is the who gives you strength to make
where you will eat bread without pov- very fact that bread requires human wealth” (Devarim 8:18).
erty – you will lack nothing there… And involvement that leads to its elevated
you shall eat and you shall be satisfied sanctity. We are therefore required to refocus
and you shall bless the L-rd your G-d for our minds on G-d as the source of
the good Land which He has given you.” Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik all goodness, and to acknowledge

From here the Talmud (Berachot 48b) (Derashot HaRav p. 167) explains His role. Through the Grace after
learns that whenever one eats a meal that in the process of bread making, Meals, said specifically after eating
with bread and is sated, one is required where a person plays such a human-made bread, the Torah is
to say Grace after Meals. This raises a critical role, he or she is essentially reminding us of the ultimate Creator:
number of questions. re-creating Creation. This is the “Lest you eat and become satisfied
and you build good houses and
First, it is understandable for the task of humankind – to partner with settle… And you shall say in your
Infinite G-d, as the source of all G-d as a co-creator, as the Torah heart, ‘my strength and the might of
blessing, to bless people – but how (Bereishit 1:28) states, “Fill the earth my hand made me all this wealth’”
is it possible for finite people to bless and master it.” Bread is the symbol (Devarim 8:12, 17).
G-d? Thanking and acknowledging of our mission in life – to take that
seem to be within the capability of which G-d gives us, whether it is raw We must realize the power of our
humans – but to bless implies filling wheat or raw talent, and to “master involvement in partnering with G-d
a void. What could G-d possibly lack? it,” to develop it into much more. It is and the transcendental sanctity that
for this reason that bread, reflecting this can create. At the same time,
Second, why does the Grace our partnership with G-d, attains the we must never forget the Divine
after Meals apply only to bread? greatest level of holiness. Through the source; our re-creations are based
Immediately prior to this verse, act of re-creating with that which G-d upon the Creator’s creations. Tu
the Torah describes the Land in created, we bless G-d. BiShvat helps us focus on G-d-given
relation to the seven species. Surely fruits of the Land so we can renew
they, too, require a blessing of such So why do we recite Grace after Meals our appreciation that ultimately all
significance? after eating bread and not other comes from G-d. And then we bless,
foods? While it is obvious that the
Fruits and vegetables are entirely success of crops is ultimately up to because making blessings on life is
natural and almost wholly dependent G-d, it can be more difficult to notice our opportunity to transform life into
on factors external to human control. G-d’s role in the creation of human- the ultimate blessing.
Their growth and quality are dictated made products. Thus, one may
by the nutrients in the ground and the conclude that bread is the product of
rain from the heavens. In contrast, humanity alone. The same extends
bread cannot grow on its own. It takes to all of our accomplishments. While
a long process involving “sowing, there may be no atheist in a foxhole,
plowing, reaping, binding sheaves, the opposite is also often true; one
threshing, winnowing, selecting, forgets to acknowledge G-d when Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy is a popular teacher,
grinding, sifting, kneading and things are going well. As the Torah speaker and writer.

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