Blessings on Mitzvot

Before doing any mitzvah, a blessing is also said, but somewhat longer. Rabbi Freeman illuminates the meaning of the added words.

For every Mitzvah between man and G-d, which is prescribed either by the Torah or our Sages, we are obliged to recite a blessing of thanksgiving and praise to G-d for having sanctified us and commanded us to fulfill it. The Sages found Scriptural support ...

Generally, blessings are recited before performing a mitzvah—e.g. before eating the matzah or before lighting the Chanukah candles. There are two exceptions to this rule: netilat yadayim (ritual hand washing, whether before eating or upon awakening in ...

The blessing that we recite before lighting the Chanukah candles reads, "Blessed are You, G‑d...who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the Chanukah lamp." I don't get it. When did G‑d command us to light the menorah? Isn't ...

All Jewish souls constitute one entity. Our nation is likened to a large body, each soul emanating from one of its 248 limbs. From this stems our mutual responsibility for one another—because we truly are one.

Question: For every mitzvah there is a blessing. Why do we not say a blessing when we build the sukkah? Response: While building the sukkah is a mitzvah, the mitzvah is not concluded until you actually dwell in it during Sukkot. Thus building the sukkah ...

Question: I've just learned the blessing that we say before taking the Four Species on Sukkot--and I have a question. Why do we say "Blessed are You … who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the taking of the lulav"? What ...

After the initial blessing over the wine, the rabbi recites the betrothal blessing, birkhat erusin. The groom does not recite this blessing according to our custom, because he is tarud, undoubtedly nervous and not able to concentrate. Moreover, because ...

Normally, the blessing is recited before the performance of a mitzvah, but here we light the candle and only afterwards recite the blessing. This is because once the blessing is recited Shabbat has been ushered in, and lighting the candle would be ...

The proper way to don tzitzit and tallit -- complete with an illustrated guide -- and the blessings recited when doing so.