Judaism, brachot, and ritualisation of everyday life

[vijeno]

I'm an atheist with a love for languages and a soft spot for Judaism. So I went and learned a few brachot, and I'm just about starting to repeat them (in my head or under my breath) before meals.

I feel like ritualising the mundane is a good idea in general. I can't really explain why, it just refocuses the brain, it makes you stop, take a moment to go "hey, this is special, I should be thankful for this". I guess it's an exercise in mindfulness.

I guess one could do this without a foreign language and a religion in which one does not believe... this is just my personal take on it. I feel like ritualisation is one thing we can take from many religions even if we don't believe in them, and somehow Judaism gets this right, for me anyway.

So... thoughts?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I believe that there is value in ritualized gratitude. I'm rather partial to Shehecheyanu.

 

[vijeno]

I believe that there is value in ritualized gratitude. I'm rather partial to Shehecheyanu.

Oh yes, nice, thank you!

I love the wording of Shehakol - just the conciseness of it.

I wonder, how many brachot are there? Are there people still actively creating new ones? And how bad is it, if you're a devout Jew, to say the wrong blessing?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I wonder, how many brachot are there? Are there people still actively creating new ones? And how bad is it, if you're a devout Jew, to say the wrong blessing?

In my case, those questions fall into the category "don't know / don't care."

 

[dybmh]

In my case, those questions fall into the category "don't know / don't care."

You started the thread positive and warm.... what happened?

 

[dybmh]

I love the wording of Shehakol - just the conciseness of it.

Neeyeh Beedvahro... the mystery of divine speech. Love it. Have you read the differing versions of the birkat hamazon?

 

[dybmh]

And how bad is it, if you're a devout Jew, to say the wrong blessing?

Not too bad. "Baruch Shaim ... " cancels it and then the proper bracha can be made.

 

[Balthazzar]

I practice ritualized gratitude also. When I'm hungry I eat and am thankful. When I'm dirty and stink I bathe and am thankful, so are my friends by the way. When I'm thirsty and I drink I am thankful. This is ritualized gratitude for I do not eat, bathe, or drink until I feel like i need to.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

You started the thread positive and warm.... what happened?

I seer nothing negative or cold about my comment, and certainly nothing that conflicts with post #2.

 

[dybmh]

I seer nothing negative or cold about my comment, and certainly nothing that conflicts with post #2.

Nothing cold? How do you describe: "don't know / don't care"?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Nothing cold? How do you describe: "don't know / don't care"?

I would describe it as being terse and honest.

But, since you apparently prefer verbose and honest, I was asked ...

I wonder, how many brachot are there? Are there people still actively creating new ones? And how bad is it, if you're a devout Jew, to say the wrong blessing?

In my opinion, and in order:

1. I don't know.
2. I don't know, but people are forever creating all manner of things.
3. ! don't know, and I honestly do not care.

 

[dybmh]

I would describe it as being terse and honest.

But, since you apparently prefer verbose and honest, I was asked ...



In my opinion, and in order:

1. I don't know.
2. I don't know, but people are forever creating all manner of things.
3. ! don't know, and I honestly do not care.

My preferences are irrelevant. Terse + Honest = cold. I wish you well.