Baruch atoh Hashem…… This is the start of all blessings,; after seeing a rainbow, before eating bread, and in all our daily prayers. So what does it actually mean? Well the English translation in many siddurim is “Blessed are You” – but who are we to bless Hashem? Does He need our blessings?
Commentaries give a deeper insight into these opening three words, and the following may give more meaning to your brachot: When you say Blessed are You – Thank You Hashem for the following that I have just witnessed, am about to eat etc. –
You are the source of all blessings i.e. all blessings upon us come from G-d. – May my bracha increase Hashem’s presence in the world – Blessed is Hashem that He allows us to bless Him – Blessed is Hashem, that He allows us to realise that it is good to bless/thank Him and that it is truth. –
And finally but by no means least; Blessed is Hashem because everything He does is “giving” to us, even when we’re doing something for Him (like a bracha) Hashem is allowing us to bless Him .
So remember, the next time you make a blessing, there is a lot more meaning behind the words.
