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APRIL 1998 EDITION


13. BARECH:

Birkat Hamazon,
the blessing recited at the end of the meal.

Life is a struggle, a burden, and often very painful. Above all, life is a blessing. The Hebrew word for blessing, bracha, is closely related to the word breicha, which is a free-flowing spring of water. Once we have grappled with our goals, striven to clarify our spiritual ambitions, and fought tooth and nail to master the conflict of body and soul, then we can view life with all the freshness of a clear, living stream.

A comfortably middle aged couple from suburbia were visiting Israel for the first time. In Israel, all roads lead to Jerusalem. It was there that they struck up a conversation with an American who had recently settled in Jerusalem. They stood beneath the Western Wall and they talked. In the shadow of Jewish history yet unfolding, thoughts and feelings comingled as one. "What made you move to Israel?" They asked. "Israel." they were assured, "is a freshly prepared canvass; here you can touch your brush to the palette of life and use the colors of your soul and your history to paint your future and destiny."

That is the feeling of blessing. A canvass full of life and hope and promise just waiting to be painted. A sense of overwhelming potential and vibrant optimism, firmly rooted in reality while freely reaching for the stars.


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