First Blessing 5: Blessings Cont.

Baruch Ata Hashem continued:

When we say the phrase “Baruch ata Hashem”, we are saying to God, “May You grow.” How does God grow? – When a human being acknowledges God. Every time you make a blessing, God’s presence in the world expands and grows. You are actually blessing God.

And the Zohar explains that the word baruch means ‘ to add, to grow, to expand, and to increase.’ When you say the words “Baruch Ata Hashem”, it means to draw forth from the source of all existence, to the Name of God, in other words, we are expressing our desire that the Name of God should expand as well.

Isn’t this an incredible idea? That we can give God a blessing?