The high-holiday season is over, and we are back to basics.
Today, I would like to share some thoughts about the very basic beracha of Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro, which is part of a project that the family has taken on, for the Refuah Shelemah of Chaya Shefiyeh Shoshana bat Sara, Susie Bibi, b’toch shaar cholei amo yisrael.
Firstly, we must discuss the importance of Shehakol. All Berachot are important, but the beracha of Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro is the constant beracha. It’s the beracha at the beginning of one’s life, the end of one’s life, everything in between, and even beyond.
It’s brought down, as remarkable as it sounds, that many great Gedolim would make a beracha of Shehakol before nursing from their mothers. The Brisker Rav, who lived not that long ago, said the beracha of Shehakol before he nursed.
This is the first beracha that one can make, before any solids can be consumed.
On the other end of the spectrum, it’s brought down that before Sadikim pass away, they ask for a cup of water, in order to make a final beracha of Shehakol.
The sefer Masot Yerushalayim, written by a Rabbi known as the Minchat Elazar, says regarding the great Saba Kaddish (the great, old Sadik, Rav Shlomo Eliezer Alfandri, who lived close to 110 years and passed away in the previous generation), that he made his last beracha of Shehakol and passed away only minutes later. The explanation for this is that as Sadikim were about to enter Olam Habah, the next world, to enjoy G-d’s pleasures, they said a Shehakol on a glass of water, and had in mind that it would also cover all the pleasures of the World to Come.
So Shehakol is the first and last beracha that one would make if he were on a very high level.
And, we have said, it’s also the beracha for all the time between.
I heard the following story from a family member, many years ago, while working on the book, Aleppo City of Scholars.
There was a great woman, Mrs. Rachel Harari-Raful a’h. She was the mother of Hacham Yosef, shlita, lehavdil, Hacham Avraham Harari-Raful, z’tl and other wonderful children of that family.
When she was faced with problems and difficult challenges in life, she would go out of her way to make the beracha of Shehakol. One of her children once asked her why she did so, and she explained that when she said the words Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro- everything is created by the word of G-d, it reminded her that G-d created everything- the troubles, and the solution as well.
That’s the beracha of Shehakol, that accompanies us throughout life.
The great Steipler said
יותר מכל קלטת חינוכית בעולם מקרינה ברכת שהכל נהיה בדברו
Better than any instruction/education that one can give, is a mother’s Shehakol Nihiyah Bidvaro, said aloud in her home. That is better than all other methods of education for the family.
That Shehakol tells us that G-d created everything, and it strengthens our Emunah and Bitachon.
At the simplest level, when I pick up a glass of water and say Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro, I’m announcing that everything was created by G-d, every little detail, down to the glass of water that I’m holding in my hand now.
The difference between great people and average people is that average people make a beracha in order so they can eat, whereas great people eat in order to make a beracha.
In Rav Shach’s last year of life, he was no longer able to drink, and had to be fed by feeding tubes. He was very, very, upset when he heard about the feeding tube. They had expected Rav Shach to accept everything from Hashem with happiness, and asked him why he was so upset. Rav Shach explained that he was upset because he could no longer make the beracha of Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro.
The beracha of Shehakol is what kept these great people going.
But Shehakol isn’t just the first and last Beracha of life. It’s more.
Rav Yaakov Chaim Sofer said that his great grandfather the Kaf HaChaim passed away during a terrible famine. At the Arayat (also called an Azkara), where they normally give out food to make Berachot, as is customary in the Sephardic world, they could not give out anything. They couldn’t afford anything, and there was nothing available.
That night, the son of the Kaf HaChaim had a dream in which his father came to him and asked why they hadn’t set up food for Berachot le’ilui nishmati (as an elevation for his soul). The son said that he although he had searched, there was no food available.
The Kaf HaChaim replied that there was water, and that they should have put out glasses of water, to let the people say Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro.
That’s the power of this Beracha, that accompanies a person, not only as the first beracha when he’s alive, and the last before he passes. Even the greatest Gadol, the Kaf HaChaim asked for more Berachot- he needed more Berachot, even after he passed away!
As a project for the Refuah Shelemah of Mrs. Susie Bibi, her family is offering a mug, with the beracha of Shehakol printed on it, in English and Hebrew, giving you the opportunity to focus on the Beracha of Shehakol when you have your coffee, or whatever hot drink you like.
You can pick up a free mug from the following locations:
*1825 East 3rd Street, * Between Quentin & Kings Highway
*302 Avenue N, * Corner of East 3rd Street
*450 Avenue V, * Corner of East 4th Street
If anyone would like to have more kavana on the beracha of Shehakol, now I’d your chance.
Have a wonderful day.