Blessings exist for every occasion

Fiddler on the Roof” is one of the best plays of all time. Though it deals with particularly Jewish topics and times, its themes are universal.

It is available as a movie on video or DVD. Please watch it!

One of my favorite parts is when the Rabbi is asked, “Rabbi, is there a blessing for the czar?” The Rabbi responds, “There is a blessing for everything. The blessing for the czar … Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe…. May You keep the czar far far away!”

Indeed, there is a blessing for everything in Jewish life. A person who lives life consciously continually offers blessings and gratitude for the many gifts encountered in our daily lives.

One of my students recently asked me for a list of the various blessings said on different occasions.

I explored some traditional prayer books and came up with several pages of blessings said on various occasions. The list includes the blessings I expected: blessings said before drinking wine, before eating bread, for eating grains, for eating fruit, for eating meat or fish, upon smelling fragrant spices or plants or barks or oils, upon seeing the new moon, upon seeing a falling star or lofty mountains or great deserts or seeing lightning, when one hears thunder, when one sees the ocean, when one sees a rainbow, upon seeing a beautiful tree or animal, when one sees a tree blossoming for the first time that year, upon seeing a sage or a wise person or an honored person, when one hears good news and when one hears bad news. And, of course, there are more.

The one blessing I found which I had never heard of is said when one sees a “strangely formed person such as a giant or a dwarf.” The blessing reads: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who varies the form of your creatures.”

This blessing is awesome! Even before the days of being politically correct and being aware of minority concerns, our sages taught us long ago to acknowledge those who are significantly different from us in appearance by blessing God for the diversity of God’s creations and creatures.

This blessing teaches us to accept diversity as divine and as wonderful. This diversity adds to the wonder of our universe just as the wonders of seeing a rainbow or of hearing thunder add to the beauty of life.

Unfortunately, so often we shun what is different. We are frightened by new ideas, different religious perspectives and of people who look different or strange. If only we could live in a world which embraces diversity. If only we could feel secure enough in who we are, in ourselves, so that others could be uniquely and genuinely who they are or want to become.

On this Thanksgiving weekend may we all enjoy our families and friends. May we come to a place of greater acceptance for those we love who may be different from us … or who may have developed into their own person separate from what we might have hoped for or imagined.

May our gratitude and blessings be extended to the great diversity that our Earth shows to us each day we live. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Rabbi Barry Krieger is the rabbinic facilitator for the Hillel organization at the University of Maine in Orono. He may be reached by e-mail at bkrieger56@aol.com. Voices is a weekly commentary by Maine people who explore issues affecting spirituality and religious life.