Gratitude

Makor HaChayim, Source of Life, 

You created human beings in your image, 

B'tzelem Elohim* 

Each one of us a unique creation -

genetic material that holds a neshamah** 

a soul that is pure. 

Our bodies and our minds 

are different and diverse creations -

Full of strengths and vulnerabilities, 

talents, challenges, abilities, struggles. 

Some of us born into our bodies needing help 

to move, to see, to hear, to talk, to eat. 

Some of us will take our bodies and minds for granted 

until they change with age, 

reminding us that there are times 

when we all need support. 

The human body is a vessel that we can see, but deeper, 

what is constant and in common among us all 

is the unseen -

the souls that You have placed within us.

Makor HaChayim, Source of Life, 

Help us to encounter one another 

as that pure soul created in Your image; 

that we see ourselves and one another 

as B'tzelem Elohim. 

*B'tzelem Elohim: In Genesis 1:27, we read that God created human beings in God's own image. 

**Neshamah: A Hebrew word meaning 'soul.' 

-by Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer 

Our Jewish tradition invites us to find moments of gratitude everywhere. From the mundane but powerful experiences of eating and of waking up each morning, to witnessing the wonders of nature, reaching milestones and surviving difficult moments - there’s a Jewish way to reflect.

The following clips are sourced from: My Jewish Learning, Reform Judaism, and Sefaria (compiled)

As we close this book of gratitude rituals, we offer a blessing for you, inspired by the Blessing for Children we say on Shabbat evening. 

May you feel love and security wherever you go.

May you radiate with light and gratitude throughout your days.

May a spirit of amazement reside within you always, and may you find peace.

Nature has the power to inspire awe in us. After winter’s long frost, we feel a real sense of hope as the first flowers emerge from the earth. Or, we may feel a sense of our small but mighty place in the universe when we look out at the ocean. These Jewish blessings help us express our sense of wonder, and you may wish to write your own blessings for the natural world.

Recite when seeing large-scale wonders of nature such as high mountains, vast deserts, seas, major rivers, shooting stars and the sunrise: 

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, oseh maasei v'reishit.

We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, who makes the works of creation.

On seeing the small-scale wonders of nature, such as beautiful trees and flowers, animals, and people:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, shekacha lo beolamo.

We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, that such as these are in Your world.

On seeing a rainbow:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, zocher hab'rit v'neeman biv'rito v'kayam ma-amaro.

We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, who remembers, is faithful to, and fulfills Your covenant with and promise to creation.

“If the only prayer you say throughout your life is “Thank You,” then that will be enough.”

• Elie Wiesel

“Whenever someone tells you that you’re supposed to hate the other - let your response be love. Only love.” 

• Rabbi Sarah Bassin 

“Love yourself. Then forget it. Then, love the world.”

• Mary Oliver 

“When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.”

- Abraham Joshua Heschel

For many of us, the haMotzi, or blessing over bread, is one of the first blessings we learn. Each time we eat, our Jewish tradition offers us an opportunity to pause for a moment of gratitude. We recognize that nourishing our bodies is yet another moment for grace and gratitude. Before taking your first bite, take a brief moment to pause and say one of these blessings.

Before eating any kind of bread, say:

בָּרוּךְ‭ ‬אַתָּה‭ ‬יְיָ‭ ‬אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ‭ ‬מֶֽלֶךְ‭ ‬הָעוֹלָם ‬הַמּֽוֹצִיא‭ ‬לֶֽחֶם‭ ‬מִן‭ ‬הָאָֽרֶץ

Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam, hamotzi lekhem min ha-aretz.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

Before eating anything made of wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt or rice, say:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָֹה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי מְזוֹנוֹת

  Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei minay mizonot

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who created various kinds of nourishment.

Before eating tree-grown fruits say:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָֹה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p'ri ha'etz

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who created the fruit of the tree.

Before eating earth-grown produce (vegetables) say:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָֹה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p'ri ha'adamah

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the earth.

Before eating meat, fish, milk, eggs, cheese, mushrooms, and before drinking all liquids except wine and grape juice, say:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָֹה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיֶה בִּדְבָרוֹ:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, she'ha'kol nihiyeh bid'varo

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, by Whose word all things came to be.

After eating, here is a brief blessing, in Aramaic, to give thanks after your meal:

בריך רחמנא מלכא דעלמא מריה דהאי פיתא

Brich rachamana malka d’alma marei d’hai pita.

We are blessed with compassion by you, Infinite One, who sustains us with bread.

Adapted from the Babylonian Talmud (Brachot 40b)  

Sources: My Jewish Learning, Reform Judaism, OneTable and Sefaria (compiled)