An Additional Haskafic Touch

Interesting side point: As mentioned earlier (see Zimun: What must I eat?) the K'lal of Yatza Motzei only applies to Birchas HaMitzvos and not to Birchos HaNenen. This is interesting because the source of for Yatza Motzei is the concept of Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze L'ze. Why should the concept of Avros, a communal bound, only apply to Ruchniyus (Birchas Hamitvos)and not to Gashmiyus (Birchas HaNenen) ?

 

We can answer with the following yesod. My being yotzei you with a beracha can only work if we both have the same kavana. Further, connecting to someone else's kavanah is only possible work in ruchniyos. In regards to ruchniyos we all deep down want the same thing (Shalom,Geula, Torah, Avodah, Chesed, Mashiach). We all do mitzvos to bring us closer to Hashem and Hashem closer to us. However, in terms of gashmiyos we are all in different boats. I cannot understand why you have the things you do, and you can't possible understand why I have what I do. Since, my being yotzei you with a beracha works only if you have the same kavana as mine, it could only possible work in ruchniyos. 

 

In terms of Birchas HaNenen I can be yotzei you if in fact I need the same beracha myself (Challah on friday night).  This is the Klal of Shomai K'ohneh. Based on the above, we can say the reason this works is that when our gashmiyus levels are exactly the same, we in fact have the same kavanos. We both want the apple because it looks and tastes yummy. 

 

However, since in this world no two people are exactly the same the the pride and haughtiness that comes when having something someone else doesn't have or the unfortunate feeling of deficiency and lacking that results when seeing something you desire but don't have is really unwarranted. One can only possible think he is special or lacking, if the other person was in the exact same position as you; in your own boat.

Let us appreciate our own boats when it comes to materialism; and let us enjoy the shared comfort on our boat of yiddishkeit.