Short Version on all three Brachos, given in Yeshiva (5780/ 2020). Why they are said in negative because all three (Goi, Aved, Isha) are good but there’s something better. Why the Chabad custom is to skip Sheasani Kirtzono? And also they don’t say Shelo Asani Ish?
Birchas Hashachar (12-14)
Wednesday 26 Adar 1 5774/ Feb. 26 2014. Shelo Asani Goi. Three questions: 1) Why are the next three Brachos negative (“I was not made a…”) rather positive, thank God I’m a Jew etc. 2) We are a Goi (nation), why identify gentiles by a word that so frequently denotes Jewish people also? 3) Why are these three Brachos at the end rather than at the beginning (of the Brachos), as it is in so many nuschaos? Point: Goi is good, it is an expression of God and nothing other than that. The blessing is for having our own identity in addition to serve and partner with God in the creation, which Goyim cannot do (in the same way as Jewish people can).
Wednesday 3 Adar 2 5774/ March 5 2014. Shelo Asani Aved. The questions: 1) This Bracha is also Negative, I’m not a slave rather than I’m free, 2) Why is this after I’m not a gentile and before I’m not a woman? 3) This case we change from the order in the ShaS where Isha is before Aved, why the change? Fifteen ideas for this Bracha and one thought joins them all together. Slavery means total freedom and total suppression. One must be altogether free to choose and make himself a servant of God. When one has limitations of all sorts, he is enslaved and not free (in full possession of himself!) The Bracha I’m not a slave means I own myself so totally that I can have the deepest possible relationship with God and be obligated to do all the Mitzvos. The slave is exempt from many because the parts of himself he doesn’t own he cannot give Him.
Wednesday 10 Adar 2 5774/ March 12 2014. Shelo Asani Isha, Part One. Shelo Asani Isha, Part Two. These two classes are one class, that is being divided in two. Questions and various answers. The essence of the issue is that this point of Brachos is about the details of the Mitzvos, and this is man’s role, while the woman is about the Essence. The Rebbe’s sicha and woman about Rochel, the MeUras HaMachaila and her greatest expression to give up something good for her he sacrifice.
