291 / SHEVA BERACHOS שבע ברכות — Seven Blessings זִמּוּן / 290
Zimun — Leader recites

שֶׁבַע
בְּרָכוֹת.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha'olam —
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe.

Blessing 1 of 7

שֶׁהַכֹּל בָּרָא לִכְבוֹדוֹ

Who has created everything for His glory

Blessing 2 of 7

יוֹצֵר הָאָדָם

Who fashioned the Man

Blessing 4 of 7

שׂוֹשׂ תָּשִׂישׂ

May she rejoice intensely — the barren one

Blessing 7 of 7

בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Who creates the fruit of the vine

01

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהַכֹּל בָּרָא לִכְבוֹדוֹ.

Who has created ««everything ««of the universe, King our God, Hashem, are You, Blessed —— ««for His glory.*
(אָמֵן.) — All
Commentary · Rashi

This blessing does not deal directly with marriage. It was instituted in honor of the guests who gathered to celebrate the marriage, for they emulate God Himself, Who served as a member of the wedding party in the Garden of Eden when Adam married Eve (Rashi, Kesubos 8a).

שֶׁהַכֹּל בָּרָא לִכְבוֹדוֹ
02

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, יוֹצֵר הָאָדָם.

Who fashioned ««of the universe, King our God, Hashem, are You, Blessed —— ««the Man.*
(אָמֵן.) — All
Commentary · Etz Yosef

Who fashioned the Man. This blessing refers to the creation of Adam, the first human being, and constitutes an introduction to the next blessing which thanks God for the creation of males and females (Rashi).

יוֹצֵר הָאָדָם
03

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ, בְּצֶלֶם דְּמוּת תַּבְנִיתוֹ, וְהִתְקִין לוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ בִּנְיַן עֲדֵי עַד. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה, יוֹצֵר.

and ««of his likeness,* in the semblance image in His image,* the Man fashioned Who —— a building for eternity from him
(אָמֵן.) — All
Commentary · ArtScroll Genesis 1:26

In His image. The commentators generally agree that the Divine image refers to wisdom, intelligence, and free will. A building for eternity — Eve was created from Adam himself, from a part of Adam's body (Avodas Yisrael).

בִּנְיַן עֲדֵי עַד
4. — שׂוֹשׂ תָּשִׂישׂ

שׂוֹשׂ תָּשִׂישׂ* וְתָגֵל הָעֲקָרָה,* בְּקִבּוּץ בָּנֶיהָ לְתוֹכָהּ בְּשִׂמְחָה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה, מְשַׂמֵּחַ צִיּוֹן בְּבָנֶיהָ.

amidst her children ingathering ««— the barren one* and exult May she rejoice intensely* —— ««through her children.* Zion Who gladdens
(אָמֵן.) — All
Commentary · Etz Yosef

שׂוֹשׂ תָּשִׂישׂMay she rejoice intensely. The repetition of the Hebrew verb indicates intensity and continuity. The same is true of the next blessing. Thus we pray that the joy and gladness of both Jerusalem and the new couple will be intense and never ending.

The barren one refers to Jerusalem, whose future joy is likened by the prophets to the joy of bride and groom (see Isaiah 62:5).

Commentary · Abudraham

שַׂמֵּחַ תְּשַׂמַּחGladden intensely. May God bring joy to the newly joined lives of the bride and groom. The companions who are beloved — the bride and groom who, through marriage, become loving companions to one another (Avodas Yisrael).

יְצִירְךָYour creation, Adam, whose lonely life was gladdened when Eve was formed and life was shared.

5. — שַׂמֵּחַ תְּשַׂמַּח

שַׂמֵּחַ תְּשַׂמַּח רֵעִים הָאֲהוּבִים,* כְּשַׂמֵּחֲךָ יְצִירְךָ* בְּגַן עֵדֶן מִקֶּדֶם.

Your creation, as You gladdened who are beloved,* the companions Gladden intensely* —— in the Garden of Eden from days of old.*
(אָמֵן.) — All
6. — Joy and Gladness · שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה

בָּרוּךְ
אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה,
חָתָן וְכַלָּה, גִּילָה רִנָּה,
דִּיצָה וְחֶדְוָה, אַהֲבָה וְאַחֲוָה,
שָׁלוֹם וְרֵעוּת.

delight, pleasure, glad song, rejoicing, and gladness, groom and bride, joy love, brotherhood, peace, companionship.*
07 BLESSINGS · ZIMUN · P.291

Joy… and companionship. Ten expressions of joy — alluding to the ten canopies God erected for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Bava Basra 75a).

אָמֵן
07
Leader holds the first cup

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.

Who creates ««of the universe, King our God, Hashem, are You, Blessed —— ««of the vine. the fruit
(אָמֵן.) — All
Note · Wine Mixing

The Leader drinks some of the wine from his cup; then wine from the two cups is mixed together and one cup is given to the groom and the other to the bride. It is laudable for those present to drink a bit of wine from the כּוֹס שֶׁל בְּרָכָה, cup of blessing, since it was used in the performance of a mitzvah.