Tefillah Tips - Birchot HaShachar VII

The next two blessings that we say every morning are Ozer Yisrael Bigvurah-G-d girds Israel with strength and Otair Yisrael Bitifarah- G-d crowns Israel with splendor. These two blessings correspond to different stages of our getting dressed in the morning. The Talmud teaches that the first mentioned Bracha is said regarding the putting on of a belt (or closing a top pants button) and the latter blessing is said in relation to the covering of ones head.

The Anaf Yosef points out that the subject matter mentioned in these two Brachot are apparently already dealt with under the umbrella of an earlier stated blessing - Malbish Arumim - He clothes the naked. He therefore explains that there is another theme in these blessings that is reflected by the usage of the word Yisrael - in both of them. These two brachot focus on the uniqueness and individuality of the Jewish people and the vital role that they play in G-d's world.

The commentaries remark that the blessing of Ozer Yisrael Bigvurah alludes to much more than a belt buckle. It is based on a specific Halacha regarding davening. It pertains to the Halacha that teaches that one may not pray without a separation between ones heart and lower region of the body. This is the halachik reasoning why many Jews wear a gartel-special prayer belt for prayer. Rabbi Schwab explains that separating the upper and lower parts of the body manifests a control of the animal instincts of the person by the distinctly human intellect.

Have you ever seen those big bulky weight lifters as they don their interesting looking weight lifting belts. Did you ever wonder why they wear them? It seems that wearing the right belt allows better posture and balance to lift a tremendous load of weight. The Jewish people wear another type of belt. They wear a belt that harnesses a spiritual strength and serves as a catalyst to utilize basic human drives and desires towards positive and productive accomplishments.

The blessing of Otair Yisrael Bitifarah - G-d crowns Israel with splendor, as mentioned earlier refers to the head coverings of Jewish men and women. It also refers to the wearing of Tefillin shel Rosh. Therefore many have the custom not to recite this blessing on Tisha Bav morning when we do not don our Tefillin. Instead it is said in the afternoon when Tefillin is again worn during the prayers.

The Eitz Yosef shares an insight into this Bracha. He points out that while the rest of the world wears headgear for warmth, fashion, and protection the Jewish people wear Kippot and other head coverings to achieve closeness and Yirat Shamayim with Hashem. Therefore, we cover our heads no matter what the temperature is outside and what style is in this year.

In this light, our Kippah, hat, and sheitel serve as a crown of grandeur and splendor. It reminds us of our unique relationship with G-d and our role as his ambassadors of the Torah and its teachings.

As we encounter the summer months and the vacations that come with them, we should digest and process the lessons of these brachot to ensure a productive and dignified set of experiences that we will be able to grow from.

Hashem has endowed us with a special belt and a royal head covering. He is the Ozer Yisrael Bigvurah and the Otair Yisrael Bitifarah.