Guide and summary of the Treaty Berachot (+VIDEO) / Spiritualize the matter

I. Introduction general to the treaty of Berachot

1. Instead of Berachot in the Mishnah

• Berachot is the first treaty of the order Zeraim.
• Zeraim is, in its majority, of the laws agricolas (tithes, shemitah, etc), but Berachot is the only exception: it focuses on tefilah and blessingsnot in agriculture.
• Starts the Mishnah with Berachot to indicate that the the first act of the judaism everyday it is the relationship of human beings with God through the word: Shema, tefilot and berachot.

STUDY IN ENGLISH IN 30 MINUTES ALL THE TREATY OF BERACHOT

2. Main topics of the treaty

Although the name is “Berachot” (Blessings), the treaty covers three major blocks:

1. Shema (chapters 1-3):
   • When it is recited, how, in what posture, with what kavanah (intention), interruptions, etc
2. Tefilah / Amidah (chapters 4-5):
   • Schedules, versions, concentration, behavior during the prayer.
3. Berachot in the strict sense (chapters 6-9):
   • Blessings on food, smells, events, places, experiences;
   • Birkat Hamazon;
   • blessings of praise (to see lightning, thunder, mountains, the sea, etc).

3. Assumptions theological of Berachot

Behind the casuistry halajica there are several ideas of fund:

• The human word has weight-spiritual: bless, to recite Shema, pray, is not an empty ritual, but a way of acknowledging the divine kingdom.
• Daily life is a space of encounter with God: to eat, to smell, to travel, to see natural phenomena, experience events, joyful or painful, everything is framed with berachot.
• Time is sacred: there is a “zmanim” specific prayers and recitations, which sorted the day and connect the person with the Temple and the korbanot.
• Kavanah (intention) and respect: it is not enough to say the words; matter concentration, the modesty, the behavior, the dignity of the act against God.

4. General structure of the nine chapters

Very sinteticamente:

1. Cap. 1 – Schedules of the Shema in the evening and the day.
2. Cap. 2 – Right way to recite Shema: posture, kavana, interruptions.
3. Cap. 3 – Waivers of Shema and tefilah (sick, boyfriends, duels, etc).
4. Cap. 4 – Schedules and structure of the Amidah (tefilah).
5. Cap. 5 – Attitude interior and exterior in the tefilah (kavana, fear, behavior).
6. Cap. 6 – Berachot on food, and parent/child relationships.
7. Cap. 7 – Berachot about different kinds of foods and Birkat Hamazon.
8. Cap. 8 – Structural details and text of Birkat Hamazon and zimun.
9. Cap. 9 – Berachot of praise, events, places, and formulas of blessing.

STUDY IN ENGLISH IN 30 MINUTES ALL THE TREATY OF BERACHOT

II. Vision panoramic of the nine chapters

Before entering each chapter, a sentence synthetic by chapter:

1. Cap. 1 – Defines the time limits of Shema, and sets the priority of the recognition of the divine kingship at the beginning and close of the day.
2. Cap. 2 – Puts the accent on how to reciting Shema: respect, pronunciation, order of the sections, interruptions allowed.
3. Cap. 3 – Introduces the concept of waiver by human circumstances (work, marriage, mourning, guards), and balances between obligation and reality.
4. Cap. 4 – Fixed the schedules of the tefilot (Shacharit, Minja, Arvit, Mussaf), and relates the tefilah with the sacrifices of the Temple.
5. Cap. 5 – Defines the kavanah and posture interior suitable for the Amidah: fear, modesty, peace of mind, we turn it into a routine.
6. Cap. 6 – Classifies the berachot prior to eating, establishing the categories of food and the principle of'ikar/tafel (primary/secondary).
7. Cap. 7 – Complete the system of berachot on food and goes to Birkat Hamazon.
8. Cap. 8 – Develops in detail Birkat Hamazon and the zimun, with variations and special cases.
9. Cap. 9 – Expands the concept of berachot all true: blessings by natural phenomena, events, places, dangers, and salvation.

III. Chapter 1: opening Times of the Shema (Berachot 1)

1. Central theme

The chapter defines when reciting the Shema of the night and the day, and how strict is the time. It is based on the phrase biblical “when you lie down and when you rise”.

2. Main content

• Mishnah 1:1:
  • Shema of the night: from the time that the kohanim may eat teruma until “midnight” or “amud hashajar”, according to different opinions.
  • Here appears the debate between the Jajamim and Rabban Gamliel on to when he fulfills the mitzvah.
• Mishnayot following:
  • Shema in the morning: from which it is distinguished by the blue of the white (or other color combinations) until the third hour of the day.
  • Differences between “time preferable” and “last minute possible.”
  • Order of the sections of the Shema (Veahavta, Vehaya im shamoa, Vayomer) and the basis of that order: accept the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, then the Yoke of the Commandments, then remember the mitzvot.

3. Analysis

• The chapter is translated “when thou liest down and when thou risest up” in the time frames to concrete, ligand recitation to the rhythms of the Temple and of the day.
• It appears the tension between lejatjila (ideal form) and bediavad (compliance with post-facto).
• It introduces the idea that each strip of the day has its spiritual meaning, and that it is not the same recite Shema within the time that out of the way.

IV. Chapter 2: Shape and quality of the recitation of the Shema (Berachot 2)

1. Central theme

As should be recited the Shema: posture, direction of the body, level of attention, articulation, interruptions.

2. Main content

• Discussion on if it is recited sitting, standing, lying down or in any way, and the controversy between Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel.
• Requirement kavanah at least in the first verse (“Shema, Israel...”).
• Pronunciation right of the words, care to join or separate the bad letters.
• Interruptions due respect to a king or a thief, and the difference between the first section and subsequent.

3. Analysis

• Reaffirms that the mitzvah is not mechanical: the intention it is an integral part of compliance.
• The jewelry continues to Beit Hillel: the Torah does not require postures uncomfortable, but recitation continuous within the routine of life.
• The relationship with the human authority (king, thief) is measured against the divine authority: when you can and when not to interrupt.

V. Chapter 3: Waivers and obligations (Berachot 3)

1. Central theme

Who is exempt from Shema and/or tefilah due to concerns, afflictions, or mandatory tasks.

2. Main content

• Boyfriend the first night: exempt of the Shema by concern of the marriage.
• Guards of the city, workers on trees or walls, people in uncomfortable situations or dangerous.
• People in grief or procession funeral home: waivers and limitations.
• Distinguishes between Shema (Torah) and tefilah (institution rabinica) in terms of requirement in certain circumstances.

3. Analysis

• The chapter demonstrates the sensitivity of the jewelry to the psychology of human: concern intense, you can override the ability of kavanah.
• Not looking for a rigorously the abstract, but a application realisticrecognizing the emotional burdens and social obligations (marriage, grief, security).
• You see the principle that not every situation allows for the same requirement spiritual.

VI. Chapter 4: Scheduling and structure of the tefilah (Amidah) (Berachot 4)

1. Central theme

Defines the times of the tefilot daily and its relationship with the Temple sacrifices or the time of the day.

2. Main content

• Schedules Shacharit: up jatot hayom or up to the fourth hour (opinion of Rabbi Yehuda).
• Schedules Minja: up to the night or until pelag haminja, according to the opinion.
• Arvit: no limit strict; you can say all night (with shades).
• Musaf: for Shabbat, holidays, and Rosh Hodesh, all day or until the seventh hour, according to reviews.
• Discussion few tefilot daily and the possibility of tefilot additional voluntary.
• Relationship between tefilot and korbanot, or between tefilot and times of the day (sunrise, afternoon, night).

3. Analysis

• The tefilah is conceived as substitute for the sacrifices after the destruction of the Temple.
• The organization of the day jew is structured around these tefilot, marking rhythms spiritual.
• Are the tensions between compliance ideal and compliance with the minimum, then you will be fundamental in the jewelry everyday.

VII. Chapter 5: Kavanah, fear and behavior in the tefilah (Berachot 5)

1. Central theme

The internal quality (kavanah) and the external behavior appropriate during the Amidah.

2. Main content

• Recommendation of the start of the tefilah with words of mercy, verses of praise or introspeccion.
• Importance of the humility and the reverent fear: standing as to a king.
• Prohibition of praying under states of anger, intoxication, distraction extreme.
• Conduct physics: feet together, upright posture, voice low, to avoid gestures or distractions.
• Stories of sages who were preparing before praying, and even interrupted occupations important to the tefilah.

3. Analysis

• The focus goes from “when” to “how” inner: Berachot commands not only hours, but spiritual quality.
• Tefilah is formal gathering with God, which requires discipline emotional and mental.
• The tefilah should not become a routine, mechanical, it always insists on the renewal of the kavanah.

VIII. Chapter 6: Berachot on food – classification basica (Berachot 6)

1. Central theme

That berachot you say before you eat different types of food and how to manage the relationship between food main ('ikar) and secondary (tafel).

2. Main content

• Classification of berachot previous:
  • “Hamotzi lejem min haaretz” on the bread.
  • “Boré mine mezonot” to certain cereal products.
  • “Boré peri haetz” for the fruit of the tree.
  • “Boré peri haadama” for products of the earth.
  • “Shehakol nihya bidvaro,” for the rest of the food.
• Principle 'ikar and tafel:
  • If there is a primary food and a secondary that accompanies it, is blessed only on the primary and the secondary is included.
  • Examples classics: bread with salt or garnishes, food mixed.
• Cases of doubt about whether a product is considered to be “tree” or “earth” according to its growth.

3. Analysis

• The chapter makes the everyday act of eating in a act systematic recognition.
• The classification of berachot reflects a vision jerarquica food, linked to its origin and its importance basic.
• The principle'ikar/tafel is key not only for food, but as a conceptual model: the secondary is defined in function of the primary.

IX. Chapter 7: Berachot on food and Birkat Hamazon (Berachot 7)

1. Central theme

Complete cases of berachot on food and get into the topic of Birkat Hamazon (blessing after eating bread).

2. Main content

• Discussion of food-specific and its berachot appropriate, including questions about certain cases limitrofes.
• Introduction Birkat Hamazon:
  • Obligation of blessing after eating bread and be satisfied, based on “and you shall eat, you saciaras and bendeciras”.
  • Distinction between the obligation of the Torah and the sages.
• Concept zimun: when three or more they eat together, are called upon to bless together.
• Differences of formula according to the number of participants (3, 10, 100, 1000, 10000).

3. Analysis

• You pass of the beraja before eat recognition (prior) to the beraja after (thank you later).
• Birkat Hamazon crystallizes the idea that the satiety material requires gratitude.
• Zimun emphasizes the dimension community gratitude: eating is not just an individual act, but also social and spiritual.

X. Chapter 8: structural Detail of Birkat Hamazon (Berachot 8)

1. Central theme

Structural development of Birkat Hamazon: number of blessings, contents, special situations.

2. Main content

• Structure classied into four berachot:
  1. “Hazán et haolam” – God who sustains all.
  2. “The haaretz veal hamazon” – thanks for the earth and food.
  3. “Bone Yerushalayim” – request for the reconstruction of Jerusalem.
  4. “Hatov vehameitiv” – kindness additional of God (originally added after Betar).
• Rules inclusions special:
  • Add “Yaale veYavo” on Rosh Jodesh and parties.
  • Insert “Retze” on Shabbat.
• Special cases:
  • Eat, wonder if it was said Birkat Hamazon, repeat or not.
  • Who can include who in the zimun (men, women, slaves, etc), with their different views.

3. Analysis

• The chapter shows how the experience of eating is connected with:
  • Livelihood universal (“Hazán et haolam”).
  • Land of Israel.
  • The city of jerusalem and the Temple.
  • History of the jewish people (persecutions, salvations).
• Birkat Hamazon is converted into a “summary teologico” of the covenant: food, earth, holy city and divine goodness permanent.

XI. Chapter 9: Berachot of praise and events (Berachot 9)

1. Central theme

To extend the concept of berachot to natural phenomena, experiences, places, and situations, both positive and negative.

2. Main content

• Berachot to see:
  • Lightning, thunder, mountains, seas, deserts.
  • Places of miracles for Israel or personal miracles.
• Berachot to events:
  • The good news: “Hatov vehameitiv”.
  • Bad news: “Dayan haemet”.
• Berachot when getting in or out of cities, dangerous, ruins, places full of memory historica.
• Blessings for special situations: pleasant smells, myrrh, spices, etc (according to versions).
• Rules on formulas of praise and curse: do not use expressions improper about God, even in moments of anger or pain.

3. Analysis

• The chapter moves the berachot to the whole fabric of life:
  • The nature and the history.
  • The pleasant and painful.
  • What is private and what is public.
• It creates a map the spiritual world: every phenomenon can and should be interpreted religiously, with a formula appropriate.
• The central idea: judaism rabbinic not limited to the Temple or the synagogue; the whole world is a space of relationship with God, mediated by the word bendiciente.

XII. General conclusions of the treaty of Berachot

1. Of the Temple to the word
   Berachot shown as rabbinic judaism build a system in which, after the destruction of the Temple, the tefilah and berachot assume the central role in the religious life daily.
2. Order of the day jew
   From this treaty are set out three axes that order the day:
   • Shema: proclamation of divine kingship at bedtime and when you wake up.
   • Tefilot: formal moments of encounter (Shacharit, Minja, Arvit, Musaf).
   • Berachot: constant recognition in food, nature, events.
3. Balance between law and real life
   Berachot insists on the strict compliance of the mitzvot, but acknowledges:
   • anguish, pain, concern, job, danger;
   • and through the variances and nuances, adapting the law to the human condition.
4. A world framed by blessings
   The treaty ends by presenting a model in which the entire world is covered with berachot:
   • before and after eating,
   • to see the force of nature,
   • when you receive good news or bad news,
   • to remember the history of collective or personal.

In sum, Mishnah Berachot is the basic architecture of spirituality daily in judaism, rabbinic: organizes time, the word and the experience for the entire life becomes an ongoing dialogue with God.