In the laws of Berachot, there is a beracha called Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro.
The Mishnah mentions the term “shehakol,” for things that don’t grow from the ground, etc..
But the full words Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro show up in the Mishnah referring to a beracha on “Shoteh Mayim Litzma’oh.” One who drinks water when he’s thirsty says the beracha, “Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro.”
What is it about water specifically that deserves this beracha of Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro?
Of course, we make this beracha on other things, but that’s as a default. This beracha is designated for water, specifically when one is thirsty.
The Reshit Chochma, who was a great Kabbalist, explains this with a kabbalistic flavor, which we will try to make understandable to all.
The first thing he tells us is that water symbolizes Hashem‘s kindness. Mayim is kindness.
Secondly, it is interesting to note that a person drinks water when they are thirsty. It says that when a person’s stomach is very acidic, he should drink a lot of water. If someone has acid reflux, the best thing to do is drink water. There is some thing about water that helps an acidic stomach. We can explain that naturally, but everything in our body has deep symbolism. There are deep reasons behind everything. The Reshit Chochma says that the thirsty stomach, symbolizes justice which is Hot, Acid, Fire.
Water symbolizes G-d’s kindness.
So every time a person is thirsty, and he drinks water, there is some symbolism going on. The water, which represents G-d‘s kindness should overcome the justice. So drinking water when one is thirsty seems like a simple function, but there is a depth to it.
There are people that have a custom of adding water to their wine at kiddush, for the same symbolism. Water symbolizes G-d‘s kindness, and wine, which is red, symbolizes G-d’s justice.
If a person is drinking water for some other reason beside being thirsty (such as to swallow a pill), he does not make a beracha, because the symbolism is that water is meant in order to quench the thirst. Water, which represents kindness, will overcome the judgment.
Furthermore, he explains the meaning behind the beracha Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro.
The first word, Shehakol, means All. He says that this “All” refers to all the miracles that happened to the Jewish people. The word Kol/All is the source of the miracles of the Jewish people.
The next word, Ni’hiyah, means happened
so when we say Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro
we are saying, “All the miracles happened,”
Bidvaro- with G-d’s kindness.
The word Dvaro, he says, refers to G-d’s kindness.
Where do we see that? And where do we see it connected to water?
In a pasuk in Mishleh, that says,
מַ֣יִם עֲ֭מֻקִּים דִּבְרֵ֣י פִי־אִ֑יש
Deep waters are the words of the mouth of man.
Here Dvar, means “words” which connects to water. So water is Hashem’s kindness.
So when we say Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro, we are saying that, “All the miracles happen from G-d’s kindness.”
And we need these miracles when there is justice in the world. This is a deep concept. When you have a glass of water, it is not just a glass of water. When you have a glass of water, what you’re really saying is, “I’m thirsty.” This is the symbolism that there is justice in the world. Man is called an, Olam Katan- a miniature world.
The only way to get rid of that thirst/justice, is with G-d’s kindness.
Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro
All the miracles that happened to the Jewish people, happens with the waters of G-d’s kindness.
We have heard, in the past, that if someone has challenges in his life, saying Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro is considered a segula.
It’s been told over that when Chacham Yosef ybl, and his brother Chacham Avraham Raful ztl, were taken hostage by terrorists, their mother, Rabbanit Rachel Raful would say Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro with extra kavana. She said that it was a segula in time of challenge to say this beracha.
The simple reason for this, I was told, is that the meaning of the beracha
Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro is
Everything was created with His Words -
This means that G-d created the problem, and G-d created the solution as well.
But we are learning today, that there is a deeper meaning to this. When we have a challenge, and G-d has justice, we can get rid of this justice by believing in G-d’s kindness.
Believing, Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro.
I would like to mention that the clarity I gained on this topic was due to my Mishleh class, with a wonderful group of men that join me every day for Mishleh, and together we worked this out. Hopefully, this was explained in a way that even the simple people amongst us, myself included, can understand it.
This should give us hizzuk that a simple, daily activity, like saying Shehakol Ni’hiyah Bidvaro is an opportunity to exercise our Bitachon muscles. Do this once a day.
It’s a wonderful thing.
Once a day, before you drink a glass of water think,
Shehakol- that all the miracles that happened to the Jewish people,
Ni’hiyah- happened
Bidvaro- with Hashem’s kindness
And seek G-d’s kindness to come down upon us.
Have a wonderful day.