Rabbi Ephraim Sprecher, Dean of Students and Senior Lecturer at Diaspora Yeshiva, is not only a popular speaker and teacher, but also a dynamic thinker and writer. A student of Harav Yaakov Kamenetsky and Harav Gedalia Schorr, Rabbi Sprecher was granted smicha (rabbinical ordination) by Torah Vodaath Yeshiva. Prior to his current position, Rabbi Sprecher was a professor of Judaic studies at Touro College in New York. In addition to his duties at Diaspora Yeshiva, Rabbi Sprecher writes a regular column on various Judaic topics in the Jewish Press, and lectures regularly at the OU Israel Center in Jerusalem.
Can Man Bless G-d?
Published: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 07:54:46 PM
Number of views: 1487

“And Malchizedek blessed Avram, and said, ‘Blessed be Avram to the Most High G-d…and blessed be the Most High G-d’”. (Bereshit 14:19,20) Malchizedek first blesses Avram, and then blesses G-d. Shouldn’t the order have been reversed? First he should have blessed G-d and then he should have blessed Avram.

To answer this question, Rav Soloveitchik asks another question. “How can a human being who is made of flesh and blood dare approach the Master and Creator of the Universe and bless Him?” Rav Soloveitchik in Derashot Harav answers that man must provide help and assistance, as it were, to the Master of the Universe.

The Rav continues that man must “help” G-d to reveal His Presence in the world. G-d told Avram that his assignment is to make G-d’s presence known to the world. Avraham and his children must remove the clouds that obscure G-d from human perception.

Thus, before Malchizedek blessed G-d, he first wanted to bless Avraham and his descendants to be successful in spiritually conquering the world. Therefore, through Avraham’s own success, G-d Himself would also be blessed.

Perhaps this is what Rashi means in his translation of Devarim 32:18 which says “You, Israel, have weakened the Rock that gave birth to you!” Rashi elaborates by making the following, incredible statement. “When G-d comes to bestow goodness on us, and we anger Him through our sins, then we ‘weaken’ G-d’s power to do good to us.”

Rashi makes another amazing comment, this time on Devarim 33:5 “G-d is King in Yeshurin (Israel), when all the tribes of Israel are united”. Rashi comments “When is G-d King over Israel? When the Jewish People are gathered together and united, but G-d is NOT King when the Jewish People are divisive and there is MACHLOKET between us.”

Thus, the way we can bless G-d is by doing His will thru Torah and Mitzvot and by being united and loving one another.

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