One may not pause in the middle of Birkat Hamazon to talk about other things.
#First paragraph birkat hamazon transliteration full
However, no matter how habitual Birkat Hamazon may become, you should still give your full attention to every word when reciting this prayer. In religious schools, children sing the Grace After Meals aloud together after lunch, and a rousing rendition of Birkat Hamazon traditionally marks the end of Shabbos or holiday meals. Likewise, even if you’re just grabbing a quick sandwich on the go, you need to slow down for at least a few minutes afterwards to recite Birkat Hamazon.įor many religious Jews, Birkat Hamazon is a part of daily life. Even a giant serving of steak and potatoes doesn’t qualify as a meal until you add a dinner roll or two. It’s defined by whether or not you’re eating bread.Įating any amount of food without bread is seen as just a snack. However, in Jewish thought, a true meal is not defined by the amount of food you eat, or the time of day when you eat it. Birkat Hamazon Guidelinesīirkat Hamazon, or Bentching as it is called in Yiddish, is the special Grace After Meals reserved for after you’ve eaten a genuine meal. When we are most at risk of forgetting God’s dominion over us, saying Grace After Meals reminds us of this important and fundamental religious principle. This contentment can easily cause us to become overly confident in our place in the world, and to relish in the power of being top of the food chain. After feasting on a good meal, we feel full and satisfied. Our Sages take this idea a step further by explaining that the Grace After Meals is not just about being thankful, but about being humble. Saying Grace forces us to take a few minutes after every meal to recognize this, and show our appreciation for God’s blessings and care. However, the seemingly mundane act of eating is an incredible testament to God’s kindness we are only able to satisfy our hunger because God designed a world which provides us with nourishing food.
It may seem excessive to say Grace twice, but this additional blessing after meals is actually very significant.Īfter we’ve eaten and are no longer hungry, our inclination may be to run on to the next thing without giving a second thought to the meal we just finished. In addition to this, the Torah also commands us to make a blessing after we eat. Jewish law commands us to make a short blessing on food items before we eat them. The Meaning of Birkat Hamazon: Why We Pray After Meals
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