Bracha over Shelter

Question

Question for a rainy day:

Every day we say Brochos to give thanks and praise over various pleasures and gifts that HaShem gives us. However not everything that would seem worthy of a bracha gets an explicit bracha, rather we say either that the action/pleasure in question is either not eligible for a bracha or meant to be included when we say a different bracha

For example, R' Eliezer HaGadol (and likely other rishonim such as the Rambam, depending on your interpretation) holds that the blessing on clothing in ברכות השחר is a ברכת הנהנין. For another example, R' Ya'akov Emden writes that hamapil exempts one from a theoretical obligation to recite a birkas hanehenin on tashmish hamita. – Fred Nov 17

My question is sleeping with a roof over ones head. Has anyone ever seen an opinion that states when one says bracha x that you can have in mind thanking HaShem that you slept with a roof over your head protected from the elements ?

Answer 1

The specific brochos in Birchas HaShachar are related to those things that are equally essential to all am yisroel. They are not personal brochos. Therefore one would make the brocha "sh'asah li kol tzarchi" on wearing shoes, even if they are not wearing shoes that day. On the other hand, on tisha b'av, when klal Yisrael is not wearing shoes, we dont make that bracha even if we ourselves have a heter to wear say, orthopedic leather shoes. The Gemara states that "one should even sell the beams of his house to buy shoes". From this we see that shoes are considered a more intrinsic necessity than a home. There are also those that may choose to sleep outside or are, G-d forbid, homeless. In Egypt our forefathers slept in the field.

It would also seem that since Shoes and clothing are both requirements for various mitzvas, we say a Brocha for them (chalitza, mourning, davening and learning, etc) while the mitzvahs tied to a home are either dependent on having a house (mezuza, chanukas habayis) or can be done without a traditional house (Hachnosos orchim, Bayis vaad l'chochomim).

Their are also other, much deeper, reasons why those specific Brochos were chosen for Birchas hashachar.

The appropriate time to Thank Hashem for having a home, would be as stated earlier, when buying the home (shehechyanu) or when placing a mezuzah. Some also have the custom of making a chanukas habayis on a rented home. We can also have it in mind when we say Birchas HaTorah if we learn in our home and any other bracho on a mitzvah done in the home.