Why Do We Say "Bless You" When Someone Sneezes? 5 Points to Ponder

Pipeline Explosion

A plumbing issue in a building is a significant hassle. Old, rusty, cracked, and decaying iron pipes can create numerous problems such as leaks and bursts. Signs of plumbing issues in a building include high water bills for the residents, low water pressure, and sometimes murky and foul-smelling water coming from the taps.

When plumbing problems are discovered, it's essential to call a plumber to identify the source of the issue and replace the old pipes with new, durable ones, resistant to lime buildup, corrosion, pressure, and extreme temperatures.

Our body also has its own set of pipes.

In our body, blood vessels are the channels through which blood flows between tissues and organs. These vessels include the arteries, which carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body, the veins, which bring blood back to the heart, and the capillaries, which facilitate the exchange of substances between the blood and body tissues.

The blood vessels form an extensive network of channels in our small body, measuring about 100,000 kilometers, through which a constant supply of blood flows, reaching every corner of the body! If we examine the structure of the arteries, we'll find that they have thick walls that enable them to withstand the pressure caused by the blood flow.

And I ask, who designed and installed these pipelines in our bodies? How can pipes that run up to 100,000 kilometers long, carrying blood non-stop, not wear out, and have no cracks, rust, or decay? How do these pipes function tirelessly without any leaks or bursts? Bless His name forever!

It's important to know that atherosclerosis (where cholesterol and fatty deposits accumulate within artery walls), smoking, diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, certain hereditary conditions, and injuries can damage and weaken artery walls. The blood pressure in the affected artery causes it to expand outward; this condition is known as an aneurysm (an expansion of a blood vessel due to the weakening of the artery wall and loss of elasticity). The danger posed by an aneurysm is the possibility of an artery rupture, which can lead to catastrophic internal bleeding and even death.

"Start, and I'll Help You. Just Start..."

A conversation with my precious 3-year-old daughter at dinner:

- "Daddy, feed me."

- "Hallel, you're a big and smart girl, start eating on your own, and then I'll feed you."

- "But Daddy," she said in a sweet voice, "I don't know how to eat by myself."

- "Hallel, you're mature and wise and you know how to eat on your own. At your kindergarten, you eat nicely by yourself. Start eating, and then Daddy will help and feed you."

My wife looked on and asked, "Why the insistence? Why not just feed her?" I replied, "I can feed her; technically, it's not a problem for me. But I want her to get used to independence and maturity. I want her to make an effort, take the first step, show me she's serious. Once she starts, I'll help her..."

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Then I suddenly realized that I sometimes behave like my 3-year-old daughter.

Sometimes we too want things from Hashem, "to spoon-feed us" (without effort on our part). Here and now. "Hashem, give me livelihood, give me a wife, give me a house, give me children... Hashem, feed me..." But Hashem does not respond this way. Why? For He is all-powerful and loves us?! Rather, Hashem wants us to take the first step in our relationship with Him, to make genuine efforts, to show Him we're serious in our intentions, that we're not lazy and want to receive everything ready-made...

Remember, if a person shows willingness, makes efforts, strives to progress in serving Hashem, then from heaven they'll assist in realizing their aspirations and successful paths, because it's a great principle we hold: "He who comes to purify is assisted" (Shabbat 104a).

The Architecture of Joints

We have hundreds of bones in our body. I wondered, who connected them all? What holds them together? For example, what connects the knee joint, which links the thigh bone to the shin bone?

Our bones are connected by joints. The freedom of movement between the bones depends on the joint structure. Synovial joints allow movement but are restricted to specific directions based on the shape of the bones.

There are different kinds of synovial joints, like hinge and ball-and-socket:

Hinge joint – A joint built like a door hinge, allows movement in only one direction: bending and straightening, like the elbow joint and knee joint (the jaw is also a type of hinge joint).

Ball-and-socket joint – A joint shaped like a pestle and mortar. It offers the greatest range of motion, allowing movement in all directions. Examples include the hip (pelvis) joint and the shoulder joint.

We can see that each joint has incredible architecture, allowing us to function optimally. And I ask, who is the architect that planned, designed, and connected these joints so perfectly for our function?

And in general, who is the architect that joined the bone ends with strong ligaments? Who "planted" and lined the joints with cartilage to prevent bone wear and allow smooth movement within the joint? Who "ensured" a cavity - the space between the bones, permitting movement and containing fluid (like oil) to reduce friction in the joint, enabling smooth motion so we don't feel pain during movement? Who "installed" the joint ligaments meant to stabilize the joint along with muscles meant to move the joint? Who?

"To Gaze at Hashem's Pleasantness"

The world contains breathtaking and captivating landscapes. The scenery we encounter during travels can evoke incredible sensations within us. It's known that people who gaze at beautiful landscapes experience an atmosphere of calmness. Seeing forests, mountains, and hills, seas, and rivers makes them more serene and relaxed.

Have you ever thought about why most people prefer views of green fields, blue lakes, rivers, and trees? Why do we get so excited about landscapes, and how is it that in the busy and crowded modern world we need just a brief moment of tranquility from nature to give us a sanity anchorage?

What explains this phenomenon? Why do these natural landscapes create such a remarkable calm in us? And what is their connection?

Rabbi Zamir Cohen, in his wonderful lectures, discusses this topic and mentioned the secret of colors according to Kabbalah, what stands behind each color, and how colors affect our health. However, this topic continued to bother me - after all, I don't calm down in front of a green or blue page. So why do I feel calm in front of blue or green scenery? Then, with heavenly assistance, I came up with an explanation that satisfied me and further highlighted the wonder of creation, our spiritual existence, and Hashem’s providence over us. Pay attention: Beyond the secret of colors, if we look closely, we see that we marvel at nature and breathtaking landscapes, such as mountains and seas, which are perfect things untouched by humans, "nature as on its birthday". We essentially feel peace and tranquility in front of natural creations untainted by human hands, untouched, undealt with, unchanged, and pristine, because they are creations from Hashem, pure and sacred without human marks, thus the soul naturally responds to such views.

You cannot deceive our soul! It’s as if our soul senses its maker and stands before Him without material filters or intermediaries, which is why it becomes moved... On the other hand, other creations, however colorful, are often shaped, altered, or touched by mankind, hence these "artificial phenomena" do not stir our souls as deeply.

(Photo: Shutterstock)

What's the Connection Between 'Achoo' and "Bless You"?

It seems that not many realize, but the Torah and Judaism are deeply rooted in our culture, lifestyle, and behavior... even among those who deny and reject it. Here are selected examples:

What is the origin of the name "Knesset"? Why does the Knesset consist specifically of 120 members? The name and the number of members (120) originate from the Great Assembly – an institution with one hundred and twenty worldly giants, giants in all aspects of Torah, experts, and wise in all wisdom, who established the text of the Amidah prayer! The big difference is that members of the Great Assembly were 120 spiritual giants which included the last three prophets: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, while today, we all know who the Knesset members are...

Traveling in Biblical Stories' Footsteps: Countless locations, sites, regions, and cities in the Land of Israel testify to biblical origins, such as: the Dan block (named after the tribe of Dan whose inheritance was in the modern-day Dan region), Mount Gerizim (the Mount of Blessing), the Valley of Elah (the site of David and Goliath in the Valley of Elah), Anathoth (the prophet Jeremiah, a resident of Anathoth), Arad ("And the Canaanite King of Arad heard"), Beersheba ("And Abraham stayed at Beersheba"), Asher block (named after the tribe of Asher who resided in the region), Judah block (the council territories are in the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. The council symbol includes a lion as the symbol of the tribe of Judah), Hazor, Benjamin block, Joseph elevated, Menashe regional council, Zebulun regional council, and more.

Grammar Rules - Three Shekels or Three Shekels? Knowledge of the Hebrew language connects us to our heritage, identity, and Torah. Do not be mistaken, the knowledge of Hebrew language experts does not stem from the academy but from the Torah. From the Torah, we learned Hebrew language rules: masculine addition of -ah; three shekels; two sons versus two daughters; thirteen sons versus thirteen daughters, and more.

Did you know these expressions originate in the Bible? Countless proverbs, sayings, and idioms are taken from the Bible, and we use them often without knowing their origins. Examples: "His blood is on his head" (Joshua 2:19); "Can an Ethiopian change his skin, or a leopard its spots?" (Jeremiah 13:23); "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb" (Isaiah 11:6); "Rising in the same scale" (Genesis 41:5); "Against my wrath and against my anger" (Jeremiah 32:31); "Wild man" (Genesis 16:12); "A fool believes everything" (Proverbs 14:15); "I am unworthy" (Genesis 32:11); "Terrible and dreadful" (Habakkuk 1:7); "A land that devours its inhabitants" (Numbers 13:32); "One weight and another weight" (Deuteronomy 25:14); "The king's way" (Numbers 20:14); "A woman of valor" (Proverbs 31:10); "Beside still waters" (Psalm 23:2); "Head and shoulders above" (1 Samuel 9:2).

Why is the Israeli flag specifically blue and white? Many see the flag as a symbol of Jewish independence in the State of Israel. However, the choice of flag colors is not arbitrary, derived from the blue thread placed on the fringes: "And they shall put a blue thread upon the fringe of each corner" (Numbers 15:38). This section teaches that the colors of the fringes are blue and white (today, it is not customary to dye the blue thread because we do not know how to produce the special color). Surprisingly, among the many symbols and myths, the State of Israel chose to enshrine the flag's colors as mentioned in our holy Torah. A valuable mitzvah that is a segula for remembering the words of Torah ("And you will see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem"- ibid, 39); equivalent to all commandments. The sages even said in the Talmud (Sotah 17a) when one sees the blue color of the fringes, it evokes thoughts of the sea, sky, and the Divine Throne of Hashem, thereby guarding against sin.

Achoo! Someone sneezed near you, and we all, without thinking twice, politely respond, "Bless you!" But what's the connection? The link stems from our sources. Until Jacob our patriarch passed away, how did people die? They would sneeze, and their soul would depart, in the market or on the road! Jacob came and asked Hashem to bring illness upon a person before passing. He said before Him: "Master of the Universe, if a person dies without illness, he does not have time to sit with his sons and command them with his last words. By having him be ill two or three days before his demise, he can reconcile with his sons." Hashem said to him: "By your life, a good thing you have requested, and from you, it shall start!" (Genesis Rabbah 65:9, Yalkut Shimoni Lech Lecha). Therefore, when someone sneezes, it's customary to wish them life - "Bless you!", as sneezing once symbolized the opposite of life.

In conclusion, the name of the Knesset and its number of members, grammar rules, idioms, expressions, the symbols of the State of Israel, and more... it seems Judaism is intertwined in our national culture and daily lives. Whether we like it or not, it’s part of us, and we can't do without it... and that's a good thing!