“Apenny for your thoughts” goes the famous aphorism. But some thoughts are priceless. There’s one particular contemplation that has crucial and far-reaching implications. It can save one from sin provide him with a sense of self-esteem offer him insight into the way Hashem runs the world and soothe his resentment toward another Jew.
This idea is central to the meaning of a brachah recited on an exceptional occasion. When one in is in the presence of 600000 Jews — a rare circumstance — the halachah instructs him to recite a singular brachah: “Baruch Chacham harazim — blessed is the Wise Keeper of the secrets” (Berachos 58a). What is the meaning of this declaration?
With their broad vision our Sages perceived things differently than we. Amidst a crowd we typically marvel at the sheer number of human beings; they chose to celebrate not the collective mass but the individuality of each of the congregants. Accordingly they composed a brachah to praise the One Who knows the secrets the unique thoughts of each person.
Our Place in His world
The Tenth Principle of the Rambam’s Thirteen Principles of Faith states: I believe with complete faith that Hashem knows the thoughts and deeds of all human beings as it is written “He fashions their hearts all together and He understands all their deeds.”
