Bracha
Jewish benediction
In Judaism, a berakhah, bracha, brokho, brokhe (Hebrew: בְּרָכָה; pl. בְּרָכוֹת, berakhot, brokhoys; "benediction," "blessing") is a formula of blessing or thanksgiving, (برکاۃ:Arabic) recited in public or private, usually before the performance of a commandment, or the enjoyment of food or fragrance, and in praise on various occasions.
The function of a berakhah is to acknowledge God as the source of all blessing. It can be both a declaration of dependence and an expression of gratitude for God and his gifts. Berakhot also have an educational function to transform a variety of everyday actions and occurrences into religious experiences designed to increase awareness of God at all times. For this purpose, the Talmudic sage Rabbi Meir declared that it was the duty of every Jew to recite one hundred berakhot every day.
The Mishnah of tractate Berakhot, and the gemara in both Talmuds, contain detailed rabbinical discussions of berakhot, upon which the laws and practice of reciting blessings are founded.
Berakhot typically start with the words "Blessed are You, Lord our God..."
One who hears another recite a berakhah answers with amen; but one who is engaged in prayer may at certain points be forbidden from other speech, including responding amen. With few exceptions, one does not respond amen to their own berakha, although other prayers—such as the kaddish—include "amen" in their text.
Categories of blessings
There are three major categories of berakhah:
on pleasurable experiences (Hebrew: בִּרְכוֹת הַנֶּהֱנִין, romanized: birək̲ot̲ hannehenin) such as before eating food or smelling fragrances
when performing a commandment (ברכות הַמִּצְוֹת birək̲ot̲ hammiṣwot̲) such as the lighting of Sabbath candles
in praise, gratitude or recognition of God's justice (ברכות השבח הוֹדָאָה birək̲ot̲ heššebaḥ wəhoḏāʾā), such as upon seeing awe-inspiring natural phenomena, or upon hearing very good or very bad news.
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