In Judaism, there are two categories of ritual objects. Tashmishei kedushaLit. Holiness are objects that are themselves holy, like tefillin or a mezuzahThe mezuzah is a small box containing parchment on which are written the words of the Shema (Judaism's most central prayer). It is affixed to the doorpost of a Jewish home in order to fulfill the commandment to "inscribe [the words of God] upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates.". Tashmishei mitzvah are objects used to perform a mitzvah, such as a lulavOn Sukkot, three of the four species (the palm, the myrtle, and the willow) are bound and waved together with the etrog. The lulav is said to symbolize the spine, while the myrtle's leaves symbolize eyes, the willow's leaves are lips, and the etrog is the heart. or shofarA ram's horn that is blown on the High Holidays to "wake us up" and call Jews to repentance. It is also said that its blast will herald the coming of the messiah.. The objects themselves are not sacred, but allow us to perform sacred duties. One such mitzvah is shmirat haguf, taking care of one’s body — which, as we learn in the Creation story, was made in the image of the Divine. I believe that medical devices, such as insulin pumps, feeding tubes, and other objects that allow us to perform the mitzvah of shmirat haguf, should be considered tashmishei mitzvah.
One often says a brakha when using tashmishei mitzvah. However, the traditional brakha for taking medication focuses on healing and recovery, which is not necessarily relevant or accurate for those with chronic conditions. Out of a desire to still ritualize this action but in a more appropriate way, I have developed two brakhot: one for describing the specific action I’m doing, and one that focuses on the mitzvah I’m fulfilling. I often go back and forth between them, depending on my mood.
1)
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל מִצְוַת
[the action you are about to perform, e.g. “…עַל מִצְוַת changing my CGM*”]
Barukh ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al mitzvat [the action you are about to perform, e.g. “…al mitzvat changing my CGM”]
Blessed are You, G-d, Sovereign of the Universe, who made us holy through mitzvotLit. Commandment. It is traditionally held that there are 613 mitzvot (plural) in Judaism, both postive commandments (mandating actions) and negative commandments (prohibiting actions). Mitzvah has also become colloquially assumed to mean the idea of a “good deed.", and instructed us on the mitzvah of [the action you are about to perform, e.g. “…on the mitzvah of changing my CGM”]
2)
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל שְׁמִירַת הַגּוּף
Barukh ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al shmirat haguf.
Blessed are You, G-d, Sovereign of the Universe, who made us holy through mitzvot, and instructed us about taking care of our bodies.
*CGM is a continuous glucose monitor
