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Blessing over the wine

Hand Washing

Learn the Jewish Grace after Meals

Birkat Hamazon (ברכת המזון), known in English as the Grace After Meals (lit. "Blessing on Nourishment" (or as Bentschn, בענטשן, in Yiddish, "to bench", "benching" in Yinglish), is a set of Hebrew blessings that according to Halakha are recited after eating a meal that includes bread (whether (leavened or unleavened) made from one or all of wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt. It is a matter of rabbinic dispute whether Birkat Hamazon must be said after eating certain other bread-like foods such as pizza.

Though technically a series of blessings, Birkat Hamazon takes on the form of prayers which are typically read silently for ordinary meals, and often sung or chanted for special meals such as the Shabbat, festivals and special occasions.

The scriptural source for the requirement to say Birkat Hamazon is Deuteronomy 8:10 "When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless HaShem, your God for the good land which he gave you".

What blessing do I say before I eat?

• Over water, meat and fish, milk, eggs and cheese, truffle, mushroom and the like, as well as over liquids except wine:

Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, by whose word all things came to be.

Baruch atoh adonoy elohaynu melech ho-olam, she-hakol n'hiyoh bidvoro

• Before taking medicine:

May it please God that it bring me relief.

• On tasting any fruit for the first time in the season:

Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Baruch atoh adonoy elohaynu melech ho-olam, she-hecheyonu v'key'monu v'higi'onu lizman hazeh.

• Over tree grown fruits:

Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who creates fruit of the tree.
Baruch atoh adonoy elohaynu melech ho-olam, boray p'ree ho-aytz

• Over earth-grown fruits (vegetables):

Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who creates fruit of the earth.

Baruch atoh adonoy elohaynu melech ho-olam, boray p'ree ho-adomoh.

• Over the five species of grain--wheat, barley, rye, oats and spelt if they are boiled or ground and made into a dish:

Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who creates kinds of foods.

Baruch atoh adonoy elohaynu melech ho-olam, boray mi-nay m'zonos.

• Over wine and grape juice:

Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Baruch atoh adonoy elohaynu melech ho-olam, boray p'ree hagofen.