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Answer: We will try to keep the dikduk as simple as we can. Indeed, in third person singular (he/him), nehiya is past (all came to be by His word) (see Devarim 4:32), and nehiyeh is present (all comes to be …). (In first person plural (we), nehiyeh is future (we will be)). The question is whether we want to use the language of past or present
We can seek precedent from other berachot. The gemarot regarding Hamotzi (Berachot 38a) and Borei Meorei Ha’esh (ibid. 52b) assume that we want these berachot to focus on the past. Rashi explains – the bread we are about to eat was already extracted from the soil. One can say the same thing about Shehakol – the chicken or candy I am eating was produced in the past. Rav Yaakov Emden (Mor U’ktzia, OC 167) goes a step further, claiming that the "all" that Shehakol refers to is broad, and that generally things came into existence at Creation, even if the specific food we will eat is relatively recent. Indeed, a majority of poskim (see Shaarei Teshuva 204:20) and of practice (survey of sources, siddurim and people) is as you have done – "nehiya."
However, significant logic and a sizable minority of sources support "nehiyeh." The Chochmat Manoach (Berachot 38a; cited by the Magen Avraham167:8) points out that most berachot employ a present tense verb (see below) at the end of almost all berachot (even those that focus mainly on the past). Take birkat hatorah as one of many examples. We speak of bachar banu … v’natan lanu (past tense references to matan Torah) but end off "… noten hatorah (noten is present tense – gives/is giving). Therefore, he and the Me’il Tzedaka (42) advocate saying nehiyeh. The Me’il Tzedaka’s and Magen Avraham’s final positions are not clear. One can also take issue with Rav Yaakov Emden’s chiddush that Shehakol focuses on Creation. Why should all other birchot hanehenin focus on the specific food and this one focus on Creation? It is more likely that we use general terminology for specific foods that do not fit into a specific category. Regarding Talmudic precedent, the Magen Avraham also cites a Yerushalmi (Berachot 8:5) that one should not learn from Borei Meorei Ha’esh because the language should be appropriate for commemorating the original creation of fire. Regarding Hamotzi, the Beit Yosef (OC 167) knew a version of the gemara that Hamotzi is in the present, and the Me’il Tzedaka explains our text as just wanting to avoid future tense, but these positions are of a small minority.
What do we do with the gemara’s contention that Hamotzi uses past tense? Don’t we know from "Dikduk 101" that hotzi is past, motzi is present , and yotzi is future?! The answer is that "Hamotzi," and "Borei," … in various berachot are not verbs but nouns. We are giving Hashem the title of "the extractor" of bread, "the creator" of foods, ... In Hebrew, the noun/title is formed by using a present verb form. Now, one can earn a title by what he did in the past, is doing in the present, or will do in the future (or any combination of them). The gemara posits that the title must be compatible with the past tense. In contrast, in Shehakol, "nehiya" is not a title but a real verb. Therefore, if one uses the present tense, he is stressing the present (much more than borei does), which the gemara seems to object to.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions (654)
Rabbi Daniel Mann
601 - Ask the Rabbi: Chanuka Lighting Soon Before Leaving House
602 - Ask the Rabbi: Right Pronunciation of Shehakol
603 - Ask the Rabbi: “Cooked” and Sweetened Wine for Kiddush
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
