Illustration credit: Rivka Tsinman

We say this בְּרָכָה (berakhah, blessing) each day as part of בִּרְכוֹת הַשַּׁחַר (Birkhot Ha-Shahar, the morning blessings). What does the berakhah mean, and what should we think about when saying it?

One possibility comes from a line in our parashah, where some very similar language appears!

Usually it’s money or gifts that a person gives to someone else in order to try to get good treatment. For example, if I’m in trouble, and you’re the judge, I might think that it’s a good idea to give you a bribe so you will look the other way (by pretending not to see the things I did) and won’t punish me.

But that wouldn’t be fair! The Torah warns us not to take a bribe, because a bribe can “blind those who see” – it can make us unable to see the truth and to behave in the right way.

Try it! When you make this berakhah thanking God for opening your eyes in the morning, focus your mind on seeing the truth about our actions, doing the right thing, and treating people fairly even if you are in a situation where someone tries to persuade you to act unfairly. Can you think of areas of your life where you could act with more fairness or justice?