To Give Thanks for All We Merit - Torah and Prayer on the Virtue of Gratitude

Another prayer from our teacher, the holy Gaon Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, and holy words on the virtue of gratitude and the great importance of this trait, from the book 'Toda VeHoda'ah' (Thanks and Gratitude).

WHEN WAS GEHINNOM CREATED

Seven things were created before the world was created, and they are: Torah, teshuvah (repentance), Gan Eden, Gehinnom, the Throne of Glory, the Beit HaMikdash, and the spirit of Mashiach ben David.

When was Gehinnom created? Sometimes it is written that it was created on Erev Shabbat, sometimes it is written that it was created on the second day, and sometimes it is written that it was created only on Motzaei Shabbat after the sin of Adam HaRishon, when the hidden light was removed.

The Gemara says (Pesachim 54) that the place and the fire of Gehinnom were already created on Erev Shabbat.

And the Tanna Rabbi Yosei says: On the second day of the week, it never has a burning; this is a contradiction, because you say that Gehinnom was created on the second day, and until now, this fire has never been extinguished.

WE DO NOT WANT TO BE BELOW

On the second day, the dispute occurred; Hashem separated between the lower waters and the upper waters. The lower waters were outside and began to cry.

What is 'Bochim' (crying)?

It is an acronym for 'Baruch Kevod Hashem MiMkomo' (Blessed is the glory of Hashem from His place). They cried, but they should have rejoiced, not cried. So what if I am a lower water?

And since they cried, from this crying, Gehinnom was created.

A person should not cry in any situation, because he is always with Hashem.

Stop complaining, start giving thanks for what you are blessed with, for every movement you make, that you are breathing, 'Let every soul praise Hashem, Hallelujah.'

Give thanks to Hashem for every breath you receive for free; everything is a free gift.

I and not an angel, I and not a seraph, I am Hashem, I am He and no other; a person is found with Hashem.

(From the book Toda VeHoda'ah – Holy Fiery Discourse)

PRAYER TO MERIT TO ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU AND TO PRAISE HASHEM UNTIL THE END OF ALL GENERATIONS

Master of the Universe, the Almighty, grant me the merit to say 'thank you' for every single thing, and may my mouth always be full of songs and praises, thanks and expressions of gratitude, and I will always sacrifice myself for saying 'thank you,' and I will never forget to say 'thank you' forever.

And I will merit to be included in the secret of the supernal bride, who is included in all songs and praises, as it is said, 'Come, you shall sing from the head of Amana.'

And I will merit to include in my song and my praises all the thanks until the end of all generations; in particular, I will thank You with the songs and praises of the holy Shabbat, the escorting of the Queen, for the entire purpose of Shabbat is only songs, praises, and thanks, as it is written in Likutey Halachot (Even HaEzer, page 11), that the entire night of Shabbat is only for singing, dancing, and praising, and I will spend all my days only in thanks, songs, and praises.

For it is said regarding Devorah, that through the song, all their sins were forgiven, in the secret of 'When the leaders took the lead in Israel, when the people offered themselves willingly,' 'You who ride on white donkeys,' that through 'I to Hashem, I will sing,' all their sins were forgiven, and holiness descended, and songs and praises, even upon donkeys.

For song is the aspect of Mashiach, which draws holiness even upon the coarse body, which is called the 'skin of the serpent,' and even the riders of white donkeys merited that all their sins became white as snow, as it is said, 'If your sins are like scarlet, they shall become white as snow,' in the secret of 'white donkeys,' that through song and gratitude they merited teshuvah (repentance) out of love, and they merited that all their sins were whitened.

Just as the daughters of Israel merit during the time of the Beit HaMikdash, every Yom Kippur to dance the entire Yom Kippur, from morning until evening, and to dance in white dresses like new ones, which they receive on loan, and through this is the downfall of all the Sitra Achra, as it is said, 'The thousand are for you, Solomon,' the secret of the downfall of the kelipot of Sichon and Og, which are in gematria one thousand: Sichon Melech HaEmori = 566, Og Melech HaBashan = 434 = 1000, and through this, that we will always thank Hashem day and night = 177, without a pause of a second or a moment, we will merit to enter with our bodies into the supernal Gan Eden, the place of the quarry of all souls.