By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com

For the refuaah shleima of Maayan Tikvah Bhatia, a 9 year old girl, who needs a refu�ah shleimah bim�heira

We never lose when we take a few extra seconds to put more emphasis in our brachos. �Putting more kavana in our brachos instead of mumbling them can have enormous benefits to ourselves and to all of klal Yisroel. With this in mind, it may also be a good idea to review the six essential reasons why we recite brachos:

• To bring Hashem into our lives on a regular basis.
• To thank Hashem for the particular item or opportunity. Benefitting from something without thanking Hashem for it is akin to stealing according to the Gemorah.
• To change ourselves to become better people � specifically to become baalei hakaras hatov � appreciative people – �who recognize and appreciate what has been given us.
• Making the Bracha allows us to appreciate the food even more (it tastes better) and thus our appreciation for what Hashem has given us is enhanced even more [Kuzari].
• To connect to Hashem � and allow for Dveikus to Him.
• Our sages enacted that we make these blessings and it is a Torah Mitzvah to follow what the sages have taught and enacted.

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