מַה שֶּׁנּוֹהֲגִים לִתֵּן בְּרָכָה לְהָאִישׁ הַמֵּבִיא הַמַּשְׁקֶה
The One Who Carries the Drink
Why do we give the man who carries the wine or drink to guests, or at a wedding, some of it to make a bracha? The Zohar teaches that some things which seem to be carried really carry their carriers, like the Merkavah and the Ark. Berachah is the initials of 'for the spirit of the living being is in the wheels': the carrier carries the drink, and now the drink lifts him up.
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Explainer
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הַמָּקוֹר · Original text
מַה שֶּׁנּוֹהֲגִים לִתֵּן בְּרָכָה לְהָאִישׁ הַמֵּבִיא הַמַּשְׁקֶה לָאוֹרְחִים אוֹ עַל הַחֲתֻנָּה וְכַיּוֹצֵא, (הַיְנוּ כְּשֶׁנּוֹשְׂאִין יַיִן אוֹ דְּבַשׁ לְאוֹרְחִים אוֹ עַל חֲתֻנָּה, אֲזַי נוֹהֲגִין לִתֵּן מִן הַמַּשְׁקֶה לְהַשָּׁלִיחַ הַנּוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה, לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּרָכָה) הוּא עַל־פִּי מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר (פקודי דף רמב.), שֶׁיֵּשׁ כַּמָּה דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם נִשָּׂאִים וְנוֹשְׂאִים, וְחוֹשֵׁב שָׁם כַּמָּה דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם נִשָּׂאִים, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁנּוֹשְׂאִים אוֹתָם, וּבֶאֱמֶת אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים הֵם נוֹשְׂאִים, כְּגוֹן הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, שֶׁהִיא נִשֵּׂאת וְנוֹשֵׂאת, וְכֵן הָאָרוֹן, שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹשְאִים אוֹתוֹ וְהוּא נָשָׂא אֶת נוֹשְׂאָיו וְכוּ'.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת בְּרָכָה שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי בְּרָכָה – רָאשֵׁי־תֵבוֹת: כִּי רוּחַ הַחַיָּה בָּאוֹפַנִּים (יחזקאל א׳:כ׳), בְּחִינַת נִשֵּׂאת וְנוֹשֵׂאת. כִּי הָאוֹפַנִּים נוֹשְאִים הַחַיּוֹת, וְהַחַיּוֹת נוֹשְאִים אוֹתָם, כִּי רוּחַ הַחַיָּה בָּאוֹפַנִּים, וְכֵן הוּא כָּל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, שֶׁהָאוֹפַנִּים נוֹשְאִים אֶת הַחַיּוֹת, וְהַחַיּוֹת אֶת הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, וּבֶאֱמֶת הַמֶּרְכָּבָה נוֹשֵׂאת הַכֹּל.
וְעַל־כֵּן זֶה שֶׁנּוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה נוֹתְנִין לוֹ בְּרָכָה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת: כִּי רוּחַ הַחַיָּה בָּאוֹפַנִּים, בְּחִינַת נִשָּׂא וְנוֹשֵׂא, כִּי הוּא נוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה, וְעַתָּה הַמַּשְׁקֶה מְנַשֵּׂא אוֹתוֹ.
(אוֹ שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה מִזֶּה שְׁבָרִים, כִּי הַמַּשְׁקֶה הוּא מְכַבֶּה וְגַם מְחַמֶּמֶת קְצָת – וְלֹא בֵּאֵר הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה כְּלָל):
Hebrew text: Likutei Moharan Tinyana - rabenubook.com via Sefaria (Public Domain) · Sefaria. Names of Hashem are written in the customary form.
Transcripts
1-minute recap
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah sixty nine: the One Who Carries the Drink.
We give the one who carries the drink to the guests a little of it, to make a bracha. Why?
The Zohar says some things that are carried really carry their carriers, like the Ark, which carried those who carried it.
Berachah is the initials of 'for the spirit of the living being is in the wheels'. He carries the drink, and now the drink lifts him.
Our own reflection: serving others lifts you up.
Explainer
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah sixty nine. A short teaching about the one who carries the drink.
There is a custom: when wine or honey drink is carried to guests or at a wedding, the messenger who carries it is given some, to make a bracha.
This follows the Zohar: there are things that are carried and carry. People carry them, yet in truth they are the ones carrying.
Like the Merkavah, which is carried and carries; and like the Ark, which they carried, yet it carried its carriers.
Berachah, a blessing, is the initials of 'ki ruach hachayah ba'ofanim', for the spirit of the living being is in the wheels. The wheels carry the living beings, and the living beings carry them; and truly the Merkavah carries all.
So the one who carries the drink is given a bracha. He carries the drink, and now the drink lifts him up.
Some reflections of our own, not a quotation. The one who serves others is carried by what he carries. Bringing something good to others lifts you up too.
Full shiur
— Part 1: The One Who Carries the Drink —
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah sixty nine. A short shiur in one part: the One Who Carries the Drink.
Gold is Rebbe Nachman's own words, from Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah sixty nine. Grey is a verse or teaching he quotes. Green is our own explanation. The Hebrew is the public-domain text from Sefaria; the English is our own paraphrase.
The custom of giving a blessing to the man who brings the drink to guests or at a wedding and the like: that is, when wine or honey drink is carried to guests or at a wedding, the custom is to give some of the drink to the messenger who carries it,
to make a bracha. This is based on what is written in the Zohar: there are some things that are carried and that carry. It lists there some things that are carried, meaning people carry them, yet in truth these things are the carriers; like the Merkavah, which is carried and carries; and the Ark, which they carried, and it carried its carriers, and so on.
And this is the aspect of the blessing that is given, for berachah is the initials of 'for the spirit of the living being is in the wheels', the aspect of carried and carrying. The wheels carry the living beings and the living beings carry them; and so with the whole Merkavah: the wheels carry the living beings, the living beings the Merkavah, and truly the Merkavah carries all.
And therefore the one who carries the drink is given a blessing, the aspect of 'for the spirit of the living being is in the wheels', carried and carrying: for he carries the drink, and now the drink lifts him up.
Our explanation. The one serving seems to be the carrier. But through the bracha he makes on the drink, the drink lifts him up. Serving others lifts the one who serves.
Or that from this come breakings, for drink both quenches and also warms a little. And he did not explain this matter at all.
Some reflections of our own, not a quotation. The one who serves others is carried by what he carries. Bringing something good to others lifts you up too.
This has been Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah sixty nine.
Sources for this Torah
Texts used
Hebrew: Likutei Moharan Tinyana (Part II), Torah 69, edition 'Likutei Moharan Tinyana – rabenubook.com', public domain, via Sefaria — https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan%2C_Part_II.69
English: our own paraphrase of the Hebrew, written for these videos. It is not copied from any published translation.
Verses and teachings of the Sages appear only as Rebbe Nachman quotes them inside this Torah.
How the text is shown
The Divine Name is shown as ה' and voiced as Hashem. Other Names are written in the customary form (אֱלֹקִים, קֵ-ל, קָהּ, שַׁ-דַּ-י, אֲדֹ-נָ-י, אֶקְיֶ-ה, צְבָקוֹת). No full Name is written or voiced.
Parenthetical source references inside the printed Hebrew are left off the screen to save space; the citation line names the source instead.
Long paragraphs are shown in consecutive pieces. Every Hebrew word on screen is from the edition above; nothing is reworded.
Cards labelled EXPLANATION (green), and every line marked 'our own reflection — not a quote', are our own words, not quotations.
Notes
Part 1, scene 4: Zohar; Sotah 35a.
Part 1, scene 5: Yechezkel 1:20.
Every on-screen quotation in the full shiur, by part
Part 1 — The One Who Carries the Drink
Scene 3 · LM II:69 §1 · paragraph §1.1
מַה שֶּׁנּוֹהֲגִים לִתֵּן בְּרָכָה לְהָאִישׁ הַמֵּבִיא הַמַּשְׁקֶה לָאוֹרְחִים אוֹ עַל הַחֲתֻנָּה וְכַיּוֹצֵא, הַיְנוּ כְּשֶׁנּוֹשְׂאִין יַיִן אוֹ דְּבַשׁ לְאוֹרְחִים אוֹ עַל חֲתֻנָּה, אֲזַי נוֹהֲגִין לִתֵּן מִן הַמַּשְׁקֶה לְהַשָּׁלִיחַ הַנּוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה,
EN (our paraphrase): The custom of giving a blessing to the man who brings the drink to guests or at a wedding and the like: that is, when wine or honey drink is carried to guests or at a wedding, the custom is to give some of the drink to the messenger who carries it,
Scene 4 · LM II:69 §1 · paragraph §1.1
לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּרָכָה הוּא עַל־פִּי מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר, שֶׁיֵּשׁ כַּמָּה דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם נִשָּׂאִים וְנוֹשְׂאִים, וְחוֹשֵׁב שָׁם כַּמָּה דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם נִשָּׂאִים, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁנּוֹשְׂאִים אוֹתָם, וּבֶאֱמֶת אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים הֵם נוֹשְׂאִים, כְּגוֹן הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, שֶׁהִיא נִשֵּׂאת וְנוֹשֵׂאת, וְכֵן הָאָרוֹן, שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹשְאִים אוֹתוֹ וְהוּא נָשָׂא אֶת נוֹשְׂאָיו וְכוּ'.
EN (our paraphrase): to make a bracha. This is based on what is written in the Zohar: there are some things that are carried and that carry. It lists there some things that are carried, meaning people carry them, yet in truth these things are the carriers; like the Merkavah, which is carried and carries; and the Ark, which they carried, and it carried its carriers, and so on.
Scene 5 · LM II:69 §1 · paragraph §1.2
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת בְּרָכָה שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין כַּנַּ"ל, כִּי בְּרָכָה – רָאשֵׁי־תֵבוֹת: כִּי רוּחַ הַחַיָּה בָּאוֹפַנִּים, בְּחִינַת נִשֵּׂאת וְנוֹשֵׂאת. כִּי הָאוֹפַנִּים נוֹשְאִים הַחַיּוֹת, וְהַחַיּוֹת נוֹשְאִים אוֹתָם, כִּי רוּחַ הַחַיָּה בָּאוֹפַנִּים, וְכֵן הוּא כָּל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, שֶׁהָאוֹפַנִּים נוֹשְאִים אֶת הַחַיּוֹת, וְהַחַיּוֹת אֶת הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, וּבֶאֱמֶת הַמֶּרְכָּבָה נוֹשֵׂאת הַכֹּל.
EN (our paraphrase): And this is the aspect of the blessing that is given, for berachah is the initials of 'for the spirit of the living being is in the wheels', the aspect of carried and carrying. The wheels carry the living beings and the living beings carry them; and so with the whole Merkavah: the wheels carry the living beings, the living beings the Merkavah, and truly the Merkavah carries all.
Scene 6 · LM II:69 §1 · paragraph §1.3
וְעַל־כֵּן זֶה שֶׁנּוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה נוֹתְנִין לוֹ בְּרָכָה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת: כִּי רוּחַ הַחַיָּה בָּאוֹפַנִּים, בְּחִינַת נִשָּׂא וְנוֹשֵׂא, כִּי הוּא נוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה, וְעַתָּה הַמַּשְׁקֶה מְנַשֵּׂא אוֹתוֹ.
EN (our paraphrase): And therefore the one who carries the drink is given a blessing, the aspect of 'for the spirit of the living being is in the wheels', carried and carrying: for he carries the drink, and now the drink lifts him up.
Scene 8 · LM II:69 §1 · paragraph §1.4
אוֹ שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה מִזֶּה שְׁבָרִים, כִּי הַמַּשְׁקֶה הוּא מְכַבֶּה וְגַם מְחַמֶּמֶת קְצָת – וְלֹא בֵּאֵר הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה כְּלָל:
EN (our paraphrase): Or that from this come breakings, for drink both quenches and also warms a little. And he did not explain this matter at all.
Hebrew phrases in the Explainer
Scene 2 · §1.1: אֲזַי נוֹהֲגִין לִתֵּן מִן הַמַּשְׁקֶה לְהַשָּׁלִיחַ הַנּוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה, לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּרָכָה
Scene 3 · §1.1: שֶׁיֵּשׁ כַּמָּה דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם נִשָּׂאִים וְנוֹשְׂאִים,
Scene 4 · §1.1: כְּגוֹן הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, שֶׁהִיא נִשֵּׂאת וְנוֹשֵׂאת, וְכֵן הָאָרוֹן, שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹשְאִים אוֹתוֹ וְהוּא נָשָׂא אֶת נוֹשְׂאָיו
Scene 5 · §1.2: כִּי בְּרָכָה – רָאשֵׁי־תֵבוֹת: כִּי רוּחַ הַחַיָּה בָּאוֹפַנִּים,
Scene 6 · §1.3: כִּי הוּא נוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה, וְעַתָּה הַמַּשְׁקֶה מְנַשֵּׂא אוֹתוֹ.
Hebrew phrases in the 1-minute recap
Scene 2 · §1.1: אֲזַי נוֹהֲגִין לִתֵּן מִן הַמַּשְׁקֶה לְהַשָּׁלִיחַ הַנּוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה, לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּרָכָה
Scene 3 · §1.1: וְכֵן הָאָרוֹן, שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹשְאִים אוֹתוֹ וְהוּא נָשָׂא אֶת נוֹשְׂאָיו
Scene 4 · §1.3: כִּי הוּא נוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשְׁקֶה, וְעַתָּה הַמַּשְׁקֶה מְנַשֵּׂא אוֹתוֹ.