The order of the brochos are all in the negative, shelo asani goy, eved, ishah – we could have said sheasani Yisroel (actually some nuschaos have such a bracha) and cover all three in one shot, but chazal (according to the accepted nusach) wanted us to thank Hashem individually for each advantage, much as they ordained for us to thank Hashem for every specific kind of food. That’s how we grow in hakaras hatov. The person making the bracha is going through all the alternatives in his head as he is increasing his hakaras hatov – thank you Hashem for not making me limited as a goy, limited as an eved, or as a woman… The main difference expressed here is the precious pursuit of Torah lishma. Women have to learn Torah more as a practical endeavor; to know what they can, have to, and are not allowed to do, to mold their minds according to Torah, to grow in yiras shomayim
…for men it’s all that, plus torah lishma, Torah for its own sake, to know the dvar Hashem and learn the depths of His wisdom.
Menu