Ahavat Yisrael - Blessing Jews

“And I shall bless those that bless you.” (12:3)

From the very beginning Hakadosh Baruch Hu decreed: “va’avarecha mevarachecha” – I will give berachot to all those who bless Am Yisrael. The Talmud (Hullin 49A) states that this promise extends also to the descendants of Abraham Abinu. Therefore, the first thing for us to understand is how great is our duty to bless the Jewish nation.

When you come to the last beracha in the Amida, you put all you have into it as you pray for Am Yisrael you say, “Establish peace, goodness and blessing, life, grace and kindness, and compassion over us and over all of Israel Your nation.” This beracha is so important because it is a mitzvah in the Torah to bless Am Yisrael.

When you walk down a Jewish street and every house has a big mezuzah on the door; when you attend Shul and at a wedding, Bar Mitzvah etc.; before leaving your home.

Say a beracha for those people.

Say aloud that:

• Everyone in those homes should enjoy Long Life with Good Health.
• They should all have a comfortable livelihood.
• Pleasure and satisfaction from their children
• Fine matches for their children
• Only semahot/happy occasions in their houses, nothing but joy.
• They should be able to Learn Torah with sweetness.

And Hashem will say: I’m listening, and I shower my blessings on you.

When you gain this attribute of constantly blessing Jews you will:

• receive blessings from Hashem,
• and fulfill a mitzvah from the Torah,
• and emulate Hashem who “Loves His Jewish nation” (Daily Prayers),
• and you will cause yourself to increase your own love of your Jewish brothers, which is another mitzvah of loving your fellow Jew, Ahavat Yisrael.

Daily Prayer: “I hereby accept upon myself the positive commandment to: Love my fellow Jew as I love myself.” And I hereby Love every one of the B’nei Yisrael as I love myself and all I possess.”

May we thereby gain the merit to see the rebuilding of The Bet Hamikdash soon.

Adapted from “The Beginning” By Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

“And I shall bless those that bless you.” (12:3)

From the very beginning Hakadosh Baruch Hu decreed: “va’avarecha mevarachecha” – I will give berachot to all those who bless Am Yisrael. The Talmud (Hullin 49A) states that this promise extends also to the descendants of Abraham Abinu. Therefore, the first thing for us to understand is how great is our duty to bless the Jewish nation.

When you come to the last beracha in the Amida, you put all you have into it as you pray for Am Yisrael you say, “Establish peace, goodness and blessing, life, grace and kindness, and compassion over us and over all of Israel Your nation.” This beracha is so important because it is a mitzvah in the Torah to bless Am Yisrael.

When you walk down a Jewish street and every house has a big mezuzah on the door, say a beracha for the people who live in those houses. Say aloud that everyone in those homes should be well for many happy years. They should all have a comfortable livelihood, pleasure and satisfaction from their children, fine matches for their children, only semahot/happy occasions in their houses, nothing but joy. And Hashem will say: I’m listening, and I shower my blessings on you.

When you gain this attribute of constantly blessing Jews you will:

* receive blessings from Hashem,
* and fulfill a mitzvah from the Torah,
* and emulate Hashem who “Loves His Jewish nation” (Daily Prayers),
* and you will cause yourself to increase your own love of your Jewish brothers, which is another mitzvah of loving your fellow Jew, Ahavat Yisrael.

Daily Prayer: “I hereby accept upon myself the positive commandment to: “Love my fellow Jew as I love myself.” And I hereby Love every one of the Bene Yisrael as I love myself and all I possess.”

May we thereby gain the merit to see the rebuilding of The Bet Hamikdash soon.

Adapted from “The Beginning” By Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom