Parshas Eikev - Me'ah Berachos

QUESTION: In this week’s Parsha (Parshas Eikev) the Torah commands us to fear Hashem. “Mah Hashem Elokecha sho’el mei’imach ki im li’yira” What does Hashem, your God, ask of you? Only to fear him Devarim (10:12). How does one acquire the trait of fearing Hashem?

ANSWER: The Gemara (Menachos 43b) finds an allusion in this pasuk to the mitzvah of reciting 100 berachos daily. Rashi explains that the word “Mah” (literally, “what”) should be read as Me’ah (100), so that the pasuk reads, “One hundred [blessings] Hashem, your God, asks of you.” The Maharshah (Chidushei Agados 43b) explains that although acquiring fear of Hashem is one of the hardest mitzvos, one of the ways we can reach this goal is by reciting 100 berachos daily. Reciting berachos reminds us that Hashem is the King of universe and bring us to fear Hashem. The Ben Yehoyada (Menachos 43b) adds that through reciting 100 berachos daily, attaining fear of Hashem becomes easy.

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