One Hundred Blessings
| One Hundred Blessings | |
|---|---|
| Scripture | Talmud, Shulchan Aruch |
| Region | Judaism |
One Hundred Blessings (Hebrew: מֵאָה בְּרָכוֹת, Me'ah Brachot) is a traditional Jewish practice that encourages individuals to recite at least one hundred blessings each day. This custom is based on Talmudic sources and later codified in Jewish legal texts.[1]
Origin
[edit]The origin of the practice is derived from the Talmud in Menachot 43b, which quotes a tradition that King David instituted the recitation of one hundred blessings daily in response to a deadly plague afflicting the Israelites.[2]
Talmudic source
[edit]The primary source is:
- "R. Meir used to say: A man is bound to say a hundred blessings every day, as it is written, 'And now, Israel, what (mah) does the Lord your God require of you' (Deut. 10:12)" – the word mah is interpreted homiletically as me'ah (a hundred).[3]
Daily practice
[edit]The practice is most commonly fulfilled through:
- Recitation of the Amidah prayer, which contains 19 blessings and is said three times daily (totaling 57 blessings).
- Blessings before and after eating.
- Morning blessings (Birkot HaShachar).
- Other blessings during the day (e.g. upon smelling pleasant fragrances, or seeing lightning).
On Shabbat and Jewish holidays, when the Amidah has fewer blessings, additional blessings (e.g. over foods, fragrances, or Torah study) are recited to reach the total of one hundred.[4]
Legal status
[edit]The obligation is considered a strong custom (minhag chashuv), with roots in halakhic texts such as the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 46:3) and Mishnah Berurah.
Some prayerbooks (siddurim) include summaries or counting aids to help worshippers keep track of their blessings throughout the day.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ האתר, מנהל (2000-10-12). "הלכה ה - מאה ברכות | פרק יב - כללי ברכות | פניני הלכה - הרב אליעזר מלמד שליט"א". פניני הלכה (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Steinsaltz, Adin (2000). The Talmud: A Reference Guide. Random House. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-375-70847-0.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: checksum (help) - ^ Babylonian Talmud, Menachot 43b
- ^ Karo, Yosef. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 46:3.
External links
[edit]- Babylonian Talmud, Menachot 43b on Sefaria
- Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 46:3 on Sefaria