Have you ever been told to “count your blessings”? It’s a phrase a well-meaning friend might offer as support when we’re struggling. On the surface, it seems simple enough—but in practice, especially during difficult times, it can be quite a challenge.
Commentary on this week’s Torah portion, Eikev, offers a kind of how-to guide for strengthening our ability to recognize blessings.
Deuteronomy 10:12 states: “And now, Israel, what does your God demand of you?” In the Talmud (Menachot 43b), Rabbi Meir rereads the word “what” in that verse (mah in Hebrew) as me’ah, meaning one hundred. From this, Rabbi Meir teaches that we are to recite 100 blessings each day.
Why recite 100 blessings a day? To heighten gratitude, yes—but also because we need practice to build a habit. The practice of offering 100 blessings daily could make it possible to notice even one blessing on the hardest of days.
Shabbat shalom!