Talmudic Advice from a Swim Addict: Swim 100 laps every day

The Tosefta quotes Rabbi Meir (2nd century CE) saying that everyone should strive to recite 100 blessings each day. It then goes on to explain how one can do this.

Blessings are berakhot ברכות in Hebrew. In modern Hebrew the laps that one swims in a pool are called berechot בריכות.

I playfully and read the Talmud this way: Don't say 100 berakhot, say 100 berechot.

More about Meir from Wikipedia: Meir was buried in a standing position near the Kinneret. Pictured here. It is said that he asked to be buried this way so when the Final Redemption occurs, Rabbi Meir would be spared the trouble of arising from his grave and could just walk out to greet the Jewish Messiah. He requested that he be buried in Israel by the seashore so that the water that washes the shores should also lap his grave (Jerusalem Talmud, Kelaim 9:4).

And so I have my Talmudic encouragement to swim 100 laps a day. On many days each year, I get to that goal.

Here are a few of my past reflections on swimming...

God's purposes in the universe explained by Rabbi Zev Zahavy

Trying to understand the role of God in the universe these sad days of COVID can be difficult.

My dad wrote a philosophical theological treatise called "Whence and Wherefore" to help people do this and I turned to it last week - and then I decided to republish it as a hard cover book.

I formatted and uploaded it yesterday at Amazon KDP and today it is available around the world for orders.

He found meaning in cosmology and philosophy and also in Kabbalah. I do hope people can learn from this new edition. Here are some of the links to it.

In the UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09NH2Q88Q

In the US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NH2Q88Q

Also available in Europe in the markets of DE FR ES IT.