[Avodah] What Does "Bless" Mean? (was Z"L in English)

[Micha Berger]

As for what we could do for Hashem...

RJR wrote:
> Not that I know what it means but there is a strain of Jewish philosophy
> that understands that HKB"H created the world/us because he is a giver
> and needed something to give to

That "strain" is the position of RSG in Emunos veDei'os, the Ramchal in
Derekh Hashem, RSShkop in the intro to Shaarei Yosher... I would argue
it's wider than a strain and qualifies as the norm.

However, how about, HQBH created the world becuase He chose to be a Giver
and it's impossible to give without having a recipient -- therefore He
chose to create recipients.

Bringing the original question back to the issue of berakhos... As Chazal
write, "berakhah" is a lashon of ribui. RSRH writes that there is one
way we can apply the concept of ribui to HQBH. Hashem chooses to step
back and leave things for us to do. If we commit to doing His Will in
this world, we thereby increase His influence in the world.

Thus, a berakhah is a statement of commitment. Before eating that apple,
I commit to using the precious gift of that apple to serve Him.

Tir'u baTov!
-mi

-- 
Micha Berger             The purely righteous do not complain about evil,
micha at aishdas.org        but add justice, don't complain about heresy,
http://www.aishdas.org   but add faith, don't complain about ignorance,
Fax: (270) 514-1507      but add wisdom.     - R AY Kook, Arpilei Tohar