The tradition of blessing is woven into a larger matrix of Jewish spiritual practice informing the whole of life. It is also set in the larger context of kedusha, sacredness or holiness. Twice in Torah our people hear the command: “Be kadosh”: “Be holy!” “Be sacred beings!” Our people’s entire spiritual endeavor—all of Torah, all the law, all the praise, all the songs, all the prayers, blessings, and sacrifices—can be seen as a response to that call: “Be sacred beings, be kadosh.” Our quest is to discern what that call means. How can one be kadosh? We hear in Proverbs the words of King Solomon: “B’khol d’rakhekha daeyhu.” “In each of your ways, know God.” We wonder how we can accomplish this. Our ways are those of human beings living in the world. We wake up; we go to sleep; we drink; we wash; we work; we buy and sell; we play; we pray; we have relationships; we do laundry,take care of our children and our parents…. Know the source of holiness in ALL our ways? Bring kedusha, the sacred, into EVERY aspect of our lives? Is this not an impossible challenge? If every aspect of our existence is an opportunity to experience God, how shall we live when we discover that God permeates all, from the galactic to the microscopic? How shall we respond—personally, as a society, as a species—when we begin to understand not only our lives but all existence as a sacred gift?

The Path of Blessing: Experiencing the Energy and Abundance of the Divine PDF

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