One of the morning blessings (Birkot Ha'shahar) which we recite each day is "Ha'mechin Mis'adeh Gaber" – "…who prepares the steps of man." Some commentators explain that this Beracha praises Hashem for allowing us to walk upright, on two legs, as opposed to animals, who walk on four legs, their bodies hunched. Others understand this Beracha to mean that Hashem guides and directs each and every one of our steps, bringing us at all times to precisely where we need to be. We never take a "wrong turn," and we never end up in the "wrong place." Wherever we find ourselves at any moment is the exact place where Hashem wanted us to be at that exact moment. This is a crucial aspect of Emuna (faith) – the belief that we are always precisely where we are supposed to be at that time, that Hashem is constantly directing us, even when it seems that we are not in the right place. According to some commentators, this is what we thank Hashem for each morning when we recite the Beracha of "Ha'mechin Mis'adeh Gaber." This Beracha concludes with the word "Gaber," a variation of the word "Geber" – "man." Some suggest that this word refers specifically to Jews, as it is an acrostic representing the words "Gomleh Hasadim" (performers of kindness), "Bayshanim" (people with shame), and "Rahmanim" (compassionate people) – the three qualities which, the Gemara teaches, characterize the Jewish Nation. The word "Geber" is changed to "Gaber" because of a rule of Hebrew grammar – that at the end of a word or clause, the "Segol" vowel is changed to a "Kamatz" vowel. Thus, for example, when the word "Kesef" (money) appears at the end of a verse, it is changed to "Kasef." Similarly, the word "Geber" is changed to "Gaber" when it is the final word of a Beracha. (Another Beracha we recite each morning is "She'lo Asani Abed" – and there, too, the word "Ebed" is changed to "Abed" because it appears at the end of the Beracha.) This is why Ashkenazim have the practice to pronounce the blessing recited over wine "Boreh Peri Ha'gafen." Whereas Sephardic custom is to pronounce the final word of this Beracha "Ha'gefen," Ashkenazim pronounce it "Ha'gafen" because it is the last word of the blessing. Hacham Ovadia explained the Sephardic custom based on the fact that the Beracha over wine is generally recited in the presence of other people, who answer "Amen" to the Beracha. Since the people answer "Amen," the Beracha actually ends with "Amen," and not with the word "Ha'gefen." Therefore, it is not changed to "Ha'gafen." This is in contrast to Birkot Ha'shahar, which are usually recited at home, in private, with nobody around to answer "Amen," and so the Beracha ends with the word "Gaber." Some recite the text "Asher Hechin Mis'adeh Gaber," in past tense, but we follow the custom to recite this blessing in the present tense – "Ha'mechin Misa'adeh Gaber."