We are studying the laws of "Blessing the Name" in the fourth chapter of the book Brit Shalom.
We also discuss the positive way to honor. We've talked about honoring parents, elders, and the people of Israel. But what is the positive way for us to honor the Holy One, Blessed Be He? The immediate and simplest way is through gratitude — to thank.
Our sages said that the grave sin of Adam after eating from the tree of knowledge was that he blamed the Holy One, Blessed Be He, for giving him a wife who led him astray: "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
Here, our sages say, "Here, he denied the good," and this is the primary sin. Therefore, recognizing the good is the ultimate service of God.
I am reading from section 14: "There is a moral obligation to thank the Creator for every good He bestows upon a person."
Based on this, the sages of Israel composed the blessings of praise. We praise the Holy One, Blessed Be He, and the blessings of thanks, which are recited whenever we experience pleasure or joy.
These blessings are detailed in prayer books, including the one called Brit Olam, where I included the wording of the blessings according to the special sensitivity of the children of Noah.
What about when a person faces difficult events? Section 15 says: "Despite difficult events, one must give thanks, because their end is destined for good." This is what Rabbi Akiva said: "Everything the Holy One, Blessed Be He, does is for the purpose of bringing about good." It doesn't mean it's good at the moment. When a person suffers, they are suffering, but they must also understand that through their suffering, they are progressing toward their ultimate good goal.
