As Moshe completed the thought, Rav Olshin grew excited. “This is in the back of the Gemara?” he exclaimed. “Can you show it to me?”
Popular singer and musician Moshe Katz attended a sheva brachos held in a Lakewood home where he put his musical talents to work, bringing joy to the chassan, kallah, and their families. The guest of honor was Rav Yeruchem Olshin shlita, rosh yeshivah of Beis Medrash Govoha, and he spoke about reiach — the spiritual significance of the power of scent. Before he left, he approached Moshe to thank him for his wonderful music.
“I have an addition to the Rosh Yeshivah’s devar Torah,” Moshe said. Rav Olshin listened intently. “I once saw one of the mefarshim in the back of the Gemara say the following insight,” Moshe began. “Why is it that when someone eats a new food he makes a shehecheyanu, but when he smells a new scent and says the brachah borei minei besamim, he does not make a shehecheyanu?” Rav Olshin nodded, acknowledging the question, and Moshe continued.
“The answer provided is that the brachah of shehecheyanu is an expression of gratitude to Hashem for granting us life, which allows us to engage in this particular pleasure. However, regarding reiach, the Gemara in Berachos (43b) says it’s a ‘davar she’haneshamah nehenis mimenu — something that the soul benefits from.’ Meaning, the power of scent is ethereal in nature; it is a faculty of the soul rather than the body. Thus, one can relate to it even after life, when he exists entirely as a soul. Making the brachah of shehecheyanu is therefore inappropriate, as one does not need life to enjoy the experience of reiach.”
As Moshe completed the thought, Rav Olshin grew excited. “This is in the back of the Gemara?” he exclaimed. “Can you show it to me?” Moshe retrieved a large, old volume of Gemara from the shelf, and together, the singer and the rosh yeshivah poured over the yellowed pages. After reviewing the piece, Rav Olshin looked toward the guests. “The singer has a greater bekius (breadth) than all of us!” he declared.
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