Birkot HaShachar and Tzedakah:

With Our Hands

Kol HaLev's own Bill Marcus was thinking about the Birkot HaShachar (a key part of the morning service), in which we praise fifteen qualities of God as evidenced through specific actions.  It is quite natural to ask, "How are these actions accomplished by God?"  

Bill recalled a suggestion in Rabbi Lawerence and Karen Kushner's children's book "How Does God Make Things Happen?" that God works through people...with OUR hands.  Accordingly, tzedakah and specifially gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) are divinely animated, motivated or at least inspired! 

Bill thought about all these hands working together and an image of charitable organizations sprang to mind.  He considered each of the fifteen blessings in the Birkot HaShachar (see the Shabbat V'Hagim siddur published by the JRF) and chose a particular group or charitable organization that might help God accomplish each action enumerated in the Birkot HaShachar .  In fact, the list could be endless as there are so many human needs and (thankfully) so many organizations striving to address them.

So we see that the Birkot HaShachar could be a focus for your tzedakah, whether you choose to donate your time and resources to the specific groups and charitable organizations listed here or others that fit similarly. 

Click on a Beracha below to open a page where you can see (and suggest!) groups and organizations related to that Beracha!
 

1) Blessed are you, Awakener, our God, life of all the worlds, who removes sleep from my eyes, and slumber from my eyelids.

 

2) Blessed are you, the Provident, our God, life of all the worlds, who gives the bird of dawn discernment to tell day from night.

 

3) Blessed are you, the Fashioner, our God, life of all the worlds, who stretches forth the earth upon the waters.

 

           

4) Blessed are you, the Imageless, our God, life of all the worlds, who made me in your image.

 

5) Blessed are you, the Free, our God, life of all the worlds, who made me free.

 

        

6) Blessed are you, the Ancient One, our God, life of all the worlds, who made me of the people Israel.

 

                   

7) Blessed are you, the Lamp, our God, life of all the worlds, who makes the blind to see.

 

            

8) Blessed are you, the Compassionate, our God, life of all the worlds, who clothes the naked.

 

                    

9) Blessed are you, Redeeming One, our God, life of all the worlds, who makes the captive free.

 

                

10) Blessed are you, the Helping Hand, our God, life of all the worlds, who raises up the humble.

 

  

11) Blessed are you, the Way, our God, life of all the worlds, who makes firm a person’s steps.

 

 

12) Blessed are you, the Generous, our God, life of all the worlds, who acts for all my needs.

 

13) Blessed are you, the Generous One, our God, life of all the worlds, who girds Israel with strength.

 

14) Blessed are you, the Beautiful, our God, life of all the worlds, who crowns Israel with splendor.

 

        

15) Blessed are you, Renewing One, our God, life of all the worlds, who gives strength to the weary.

 

SEE ALSO:  Birkot HaShachar and Tzedakah (PDF FORMAT)