A Shehecheyanu Moment
July 9, 2008
Jewish Living
(3 comments)
By Gardening Grandma
We ate the first cucumber from my garden this weekend. I brought it into the house, washed it, cut off a large chunk and relished the crisp crunch of a totally delicious and sweet fruit of the vine. A true shehecheyanu moment, I thought, but, even more, I realize now, a moment to simply stop and realize what a blessing it is to have a garden and to be healthy enough to work in it.
In an essay first published in Four Centuries of Jewish Women's Spirituality, Rabbi Laura Geller recalls the exhilaration she felt on learning about non-traditional berachot.
I had never learned about all the occasions for a blessing -- new clothes, new fruit, seeing the ocean, seeing a rainbow; being in the presence of a scholar, on hearing good news or even bad news -- I was exhilarated! God is present at every moment; it is up to us to acknowledge God's presence. We do it through saying blessings. Rabbi Kravitz said, "There is no important moment in the lifetime of a Jew for which there is no blessing."
Working in my garden may not be an "important moment," but it is a blessing. I feel tremendously at peace and a hundred miles from the worries and stress that fill most of my waking hours. I treasure the time that I get to spend outside and how I feel using the muscles of my body, not my brain. As I weed, prune and water, I check each plant's progress. Does the dahlia need to be propped up? Are the tomato blossoms turning to fruit? Each small discovery brings me pleasure.
![blessingcard[1].jpg](http://blogs.rj.org/reform/blessingcard%5B1%5D.jpg) Several years ago the Union published Daily Blessing cards that includes many of the blessings Rabbi Geller refers to, as well as blessings for fruits that grow on trees, vegetables and fruits that grow in the soil, for courage and for travelers. I've had one in my desk drawer for years, but never quite made the leap to use the blessings at the appropriate moment. Somehow I felt uncomfortable blessing God for these moments. My impulse is to thank God for them and the peace they give.
I've pulled it out of my drawer and I've slipped it into my bag. On the train home, I'll read these blessings. And if there's not one there that is right for me, I'll find my own words.
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What a great occasion! I can think of three formulaic blessings for the moment (borei pri ha'adamah, shehecheyanu, and whatever the one is for experiencing a natural wonder). Not to mention, the wonderful practice of creating one's own brachot. I know one person who has a brachah for chocolate (borei minei shokolad) and I use one for Coca-Cola (hamotzi kafine min egoz hakolah).