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Blessings and Meals
Blessing after FoodAfter eating or drinking, one recites a blessing known as the final blessing [berakha aharona]. One thereby thanks God for sustaining and nourishing us in His great kindness.
After consuming food, one recites a blessing only if he ate at least an olive-bulk of food within four minutes: An olive-bulk, according to its halakhic definition, is greater than the size of the olives we have nowadays. The accepted ruling is that an average sized slice of packaged bread contains roughly three olive-bulks. Therefore, if one ate a third of a slice of bread, or a similar quantity of any other food, he must recite a blessing after eating the food. According to some Sephardic halakhic authorities, a slice of bread consists of only one olive-bulk. A blessing is recited after drinking at least a quarter of a log (86 cc, about two thirds of a cup) in the amount of time in which a normal person would drink that quantity when drinking to quench his thirst.
Below are the blessings to be recited after various types of food.
The blessing after a meal containing bread is called Grace after Meals, Birkat HaMazon, and it contains four blessings (as detailed below).
The blessing after foods made from the five types of grain (other than bread) is called the berakha ahat me’ein shalosh, which means one blessing that is like three, as it contains the themes of each of the first three blessings of Grace after Meals. It is also recited after drinking wine or eating fruit of the seven species (grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates). The basic text of this blessing is identical in all cases, but its beginning and conclusion vary in accordance with the type of food or drink one consumed.
For Ashkenazim:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
Barukh ata Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam,
על חמשת מיני דגן: עַל הַמִּחְיָה וְעַל הַכַּלְכָּלָה
After the five species of grain: al hamiĥya ve’al hakalkala
על היין: עַל הַגֶּפֶן וְעַל פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן
After wine: al hagefen ve’al peri hagefen
על פירות משבעת המינים: עַל הָעֵץ וְעַל פְּרִי הָעֵץ
After fruit of the seven species: al ha’etz ve’al peri ha’etz
וְעַל תְּנוּבַת הַשָּׂדֶה וְעַל אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה שֶׁרָצִיתָ וְהִנְחַלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ לֶאֱכֹל מִפִּרְיָהּ וְלִשְׂבֹּעַ מִטּוּבָהּ. רַחֵם (נָא) אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירֶךָ וְעַל צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ. וְעַל מִזְבְּחֶךָ. וְעַל הֵיכָלֶךָ. וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. וְהַעֲלֵנוּ לְתוֹכָהּ. וְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ בְּבִנְיָנָהּ וְנֹאכַל מִפִּרְיָהּ וְנִשְׂבַּע מִטּוּבָהּ וּנְבָרֶכְךָ עָלֶיהָ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה.
Continue: ve’al tenuvat hasadeh, ve’al eretz ĥemda tova urĥava sheratzita vehinĥalta la’avoteinu le’ekhol mipiryah velisbo’a mituvah. Raĥem (na) Adonai Eloheinu al Yisrael amekha ve’al Yerushalayim irekha ve’al tziyon mishkan kevodekha ve’al mizbeĥekha ve’al heikhalekha. Uvnei Yerushalayim ir hakodesh bimhera veyameinu, veha’aleinu letokhah, vesamĥenu bevinyanah, venokhal mipiryah, venisba mituvah, unvarekhekha aleha bikdusha uvtahora.
בשבת: וּרְצֵה וְהַחֲלִיצֵנוּ בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת הַזֶּה.
On Shabbat: Urtzeh vehaĥalitzeinu beyom haShabbat hazeh.
בראש חודש: וְזָכְרֵנוּ לְטוֹבָה בְּיוֹם רֹאשׁ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה.
On Rosh Hodesh: Vezokhrenu letova beyom rosh haĥodesh hazeh.
בראש השנה: וְזָכְרֵנוּ לְטוֹבָה בְּיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן הַזֶּה.
On Rosh HaShana: Vezokhrenu letova beyom hazikaron hazeh.
בפסח: וְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ בְּיוֹם חַג הַמַּצּוֹת הַזֶּה.
On Passover: Vesamĥenu beyom ĥag hamatzot hazeh.
בשבועות: וְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ בְּיוֹם חַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת הַזֶּה.
On Shavuot: Vesamĥenu beyom ĥag hashavuot hazeh.
בסוכות: וְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ בְּיוֹם חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת הַזֶּה.
On Sukkot: Vesamĥenu beyom ĥag hasukkot hazeh.
בשמיני עצרת ושמחת תורה: וְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ בְּיוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי חַג הָעֲצֶרֶת הַזֶּה.
On Shemini Atzeret and Simĥat Torah: Vesamĥenu beyom hashemini ĥag ha’atzeret hazeh.
כִּי אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וְנוֹדֶה לְךָ עַל הָאָרֶץ
Continue: Ki ata Adonai tov umetiv lakol venodeh lekha al ha’aretz
על חמשת מיני דגן: וְעַל הַמִּחְיָה.
After the five species of grain: ve’al hamiĥya.
על היין מחוץ לארץ: וְעַל פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן.
After wine from outside the Land of Israel: ve’al peri hagefen.
על יין יבול הארץ: וְעַל פְּרִי גַפְנָהּ.
After wine from the Land of Israel: ve’al peri gafnah.
על פירות משבעת המינים: וְעַל הַפֵּרוֹת.
After fruit of the seven species from outside the Land of Israel: ve’al haperot.
על יבול הארץ: וְעַל פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ.
After fruit of the seven species from the Land of Israel: ve’al peroteha.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי, עַל הָאָרֶץ
Continue: Barukh ata Adonai, al ha’aretz
על חמשת מיני דגן: וְעַל הַמִּחְיָה.
After the five species of grain: ve’al hamiĥya.
על היין מחוץ לארץ: וְעַל פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן.
After wine from outside the Land of Israel: ve’al peri hagefen.
על יין יבול הארץ: וְעַל פְּרִי גַפְנָהּ.
After wine from the Land of Israel: ve’al peri gafnah.
על פירות משבעת המינים: וְעַל הַפֵּרוֹת.
After fruit of the seven species from outside the Land of Israel: ve’al haperot.
על יבול הארץ: וְעַל פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ.
After fruit of the seven species from the Land of Israel: ve’al peroteha.
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe,”
After the five species of grain: “for the nourishment and for the sustenance”
After wine: “for the vine and for the fruit of the vine”
After fruit of the seven species: “for the tree and for the fruit of the tree”
“and for the produce of the field, and for the desirable, good, and spacious land that you willingly gave as an inheritance to our forefathers, to eat of its fruit and be satisfied with its goodness. Please have compassion, Lord our God, on Israel, Your people, on Jerusalem Your city, on Zion the home of Your glory, on Your altar and Your Temple. May You rebuild Jerusalem the holy city, swiftly in our time, and may You bring us back there, and gladden us in its rebuilding, and we will eat from its fruit, be satisfied from its goodness, and bless You for it in holiness and purity.”
On Shabbat: “Be pleased to refresh us on this Shabbat day.”
On Rosh Hodesh: “Remember us for good on this day of Rosh Hodesh.”
On Rosh HaShana: “Remember us for good on this day of remembrance.”
On a festival: “Gladden us on this (such and such) festival day.”
“For You, God, are good and do good to all and we thank You for the land”
After the five species of grain: “and for the nourishment.”
After wine from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit of the vine.”
After wine from the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit of its vine.”
After fruit of the seven species from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit.”
After fruit from the Land of Israel: “and for its fruit.”
“Blessed are You, Lord, for the land”
After the five species of grain: “and for the nourishment and for the sustenance. “
After wine from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit of the vine.”
After wine from the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit of its vine.”
After fruit of the seven species from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit.”
After fruit from the Land of Israel: “and for its fruit.”
For Sephardim:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
Barukh ata Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam,
על חמשת מיני דגן: עַל הַמִּחְיָה וְעַל הַכַּלְכָּלָה
After the five species of grain: al hamiĥya ve’al hakalkala
על היין: עַל הַגֶּפֶן וְעַל פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן
After wine: al hagefen ve’al peri hagefen
על פירות משבעת המינים: עַל הָעֵץ וְעַל פְּרִי הָעֵץ
After fruit of the seven species: al ha’etz ve’al peri ha’etz
וְעַל תְּנוּבַת הַשָּׂדֶה וְעַל אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה שֶׁרָצִיתָ וְהִנְחַלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ לֶאֱכֹל מִפִּרְיָהּ וְלִשְׂבֹּעַ מִטּוּבָהּ. רַחֵם אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ עָלֵינוּ וְעַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמָּךְ וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירָךְ וְעַל הַר צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדָךְ. וְעַל מִזְבָּחָךְ. וְעַל הֵיכָלָךְ. וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. וְהַעֲלֵנוּ לְתוֹכָהּ. וְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ בְּבִנְיָנָהּ וּנְבָרְכָךְ עָלֶיהָ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה.
Continue: ve’al tenuvat hasadeh, ve’al eretz ĥemda tova urĥava sheratzita vehinĥalta la’avoteinu le’ekhol mipiryah velisbo’a mituvah. Raĥem Adonai Eloheinu aleinu ve’al Yisrael amakh ve’al Yerushalayim irakh ve’al har tziyon mishkan kevodakh ve’al mizbaĥakh ve’al heikhalakh. Uvnei Yerushalyim ir hakodesh bimhera veyameinu, veha’aleinu letokhah, vesamĥenu bevinyanah, unvarekhakh aleha bikdusha uvtahora.
בשבת: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַנְחִילֵנוּ עוֹלָם שֶׁכֻּלּוֹ שַׁבָּת וּמְנוּחָה לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָמִים.
On Shabbat: Haraĥaman hu yanĥilenu olam shekulo Shabbat umenuĥa leĥayei ha’olamim.
בראש חודש: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ אֶת הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לְטוֹבָה וְלִבְרָכָה.
On Rosh Hodesh: Haraĥaman hu yeĥadesh aleinu et haĥodesh hazeh letova velivrakha.
בסוכות: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְזַכֵּנוּ לֵישֵׁב בְּסֻכַּת עוֹרוֹ שֶׁל לִוְיָתָן.
On Sukkot: Haraĥaman hu yezakenu leishev besukkat oro shel livyatan.
במועדים: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַגִּיעֵנוּ לְמוֹעֲדִים אֲחֵרִים הַבָּאִים לִקְרָאתֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם.
On intermediate festival days: Haraĥaman hu yagi’enu lemo’adim aĥerim haba’im likratenu leshalom.
ליום טוב: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַנְחִילֵנוּ לְיוֹם שֶׁכֻּלּוֹ טוֹב.
On festival days: Haraĥaman hu yanĥilenu leyom shekulo tov.
כִּי אַתָּה טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וְנוֹדֶה לְךָ (אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ) עַל הָאָרֶץ
Continue: Ki ata tov umetiv lakol venodeh lekha al ha’aretz
על חמשת מיני דגן: וְעַל הַמִּחְיָה וְעַל הַכַּלְכָּלָה. על יבול הארץ: וְעַל מִחְיָתָהּ וְעַל כַּלְכָּלָתָהּ.
After the five species of grain: From outside the Land of Israel: ve’al hamiĥya. From the Land of Israel: ve’al miĥyatah.
על היין: וְעַל פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן. על יבול הארץ: וְעַל פְּרִי גַפְנָהּ.
After wine: From outside the Land of Israel: ve’al peri hagefen. From the Land of Israel: ve’al peri gafnah.
על פירות משבעת המינים: וְעַל הַפֵּרוֹת. על יבול הארץ: וְעַל פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ.
After fruit of the seven species: From outside the Land of Israel: ve’al haperot. From the Land of Israel: ve’al peroteha.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי, עַל הָאָרֶץ
Continue: Barukh ata Adonai, al ha’aretz
על חמשת מיני דגן: וְעַל הַמִּחְיָה. על יבול הארץ: וְעַל מִחְיָתָהּ.
After the five species of grain: From outside the Land of Israel: ve’al hamiĥya ve’al hakalkala. From the Land of Israel: ve’al miĥyatah ve’al kalkalatah.
על היין: וְעַל פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן. על יבול הארץ: וְעַל פְּרִי גַפְנָהּ.
After wine: From outside the Land of Israel: ve’al peri hagefen. From the Land of Israel: ve’al peri gafnah.
על פירות משבעת המינים: וְעַל הַפֵּרוֹת. על יבול הארץ: וְעַל פֵּרוֹתֶיהָ.
After fruit of the seven species: From outside the Land of Israel: ve’al haperot. From the Land of Israel: ve’al peroteha.
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe,”
After the five species of grain: “for the nourishment and for the sustenance”
After wine: “for the vine and for the fruit of the vine”
After fruit of the seven species: “for the tree and for the fruit of the tree”
“and for the produce of the field, and for the desirable, good and spacious land that you willingly gave as an inheritance to our forefathers, to eat of its fruit and be satisfied with its goodness. Have compassion, Lord our God, upon us, on Israel, Your people, on Jerusalem, Your city, on Mount Zion the home of Your glory, on Your altar and Your Temple. May You rebuild Jerusalem the holy city, swiftly in our time, and may You bring us back there, and gladden us in its rebuilding, and we will bless You for it in holiness and purity.”
On Shabbat: “May the Compassionate One let us inherit a world that will be entirely Shabbat and rest for life everlasting.”
On Rosh Hodesh: “May the Compassionate One renew for us this month for good and blessing.”
On Sukkot: “May the Compassionate One let us merit to dwell in the sukka of the skin of Leviathan.”
On intermediate festival days: “May the Compassionate One bring us to other festivals that are to come for us in peace.”
On festival days: “May the Compassionate One let us inherit a time that is all good.”
“For You, God, are good and do good to all and we thank You (Lord, our God) for the land”
After the five species of grain from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the nourishment and for the sustenance.”
After the five species of grain from the Land of Israel: “and for its nourishment and for its sustenance.”
After wine from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit of the vine.”
After wine from the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit of its vine.”
After fruit of the seven species from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit.”
After fruit of the seven species from the Land of Israel: “and for its fruit.”
“Blessed are You, Lord, for the land”
After the five species of grain from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the nourishment and for the sustenance.”
After the five species of grain from the Land of Israel: “and for its nourishment and for its sustenance.”
After wine from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit of the vine.”
After wine from the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit of its vine.”
After fruit of the seven species from outside the Land of Israel: “and for the fruit.”
After fruit of the seven species from the Land of Israel: “and for its fruit.”
After eating all other types of foods, including vegetables, fruits not from the seven species, foods whose blessing before eating is Shehakol, and rice, one recites the following blessing:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא נְפָשׁוֹת רַבּוֹת, וְחֶסְרוֹנָן עַל כָּל מַה שֶּׁבָּרָאתָ (לכמה מקהילות אשכנז: שֶׁבָּרָא) לְהַחֲיוֹת בָּהֶם נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי. בָּרוּךְ חֵי (ויש אומרים: חַי) הָעוֹלָמִים.
Barukh ata Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam, boreh nefashot rabot veĥesronan, al kol ma shebarata (some substitute: shebara) lehaĥayot bahem nefesh kol ĥai, barukh ĥei (some substitute: ĥai) ha’olamim.
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the many forms of life [boreh nefashot] and their needs, for all that You have created (in some Ashkenazic communities: that He has created) to sustain the life of all that lives, blessed is the Giver of life to the worlds.”
Further reading: For more on the use of the phrase “Giver of life to the worlds” in reference to God, see A Concise Guide to the Sages, p. 8.
Even after merely drinking (a beverage other than wine) one recites Boreh Nefashot, provided that one has drunk at least a quarter of a log continuously. One generally does not recite a blessing after drinking hot drinks or alcoholic beverages as they are generally drunk slowly and not continuously.