The Rabbinic Blessing (Berakhah) in Ancient Sources

The berakhah is the most characteristic, and preferred, rabbinic liturgical form. Beginning with the stereotypical phrase “blessed/praised are You, Adonai our God, King of the universe,” it can vary in length from a simple sentence to a full paragraph, in which case the phrase “blessed/praised are You, Adonai” will recapitulate at the conclusion, followed by a brief, thematically appropriate descriptor. The resulting peroration is called a ḥatimah, “seal.” While the phrase has scriptural antecedents, it is used only twice in the Bible (Psalm 119:12 and 1 Chronicles 29:10) and hardly at all in Second Temple–period prayers. The rabbis mandate the use of this form for all required blessings, be they communal or individual.