[pl. berachot]; a blessing given by one to another: G-d to Man, Man to Man, or Man to G-d. Two basic types within the latter category are “Birchot HaMitzvot,” blessings said to G-d basically in gratitude for the privilege of being given a commandment of His to perform; for example, “Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to hear the sound of the Shofar,” and “Birchot HaNehenin,” blessings given by Man to G-d before partaking of one of the wonderful things that Hashem has put into Creation, such as bread. The example would be “Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, Who brings forth bread from the earth.”
