Birkat HaMazon: Grace After Meals

Customs

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Ashkenazi Grace After Meals (Audio + Text)

Ashkenazi Grace After Meals (Audio + Text)

This recording presents the complete Grace After Meals according to Ashkenazi custom, sung with the modern Israeli pronunciation of Hebrew in

Abbreviated Grace After Meals: The Four Blessings

Abbreviated Grace After Meals: The Four Blessings

This post includes the Hebrew text of the abbreviated version of the Grace After Meals, along with a printable PDF

Mizrahi Grace After Meals (Hebrew Audio & Text)

Mizrahi Grace After Meals (Hebrew Audio & Text)

This post presents the Hebrew text and an audio recording of the full weekday Grace After Meals, according to the custom

Al HaNissim for Hannukah

Al HaNissim for Hannukah

Al HaNissim is a short paragraph added to the Amidah prayer and the Grace After Meals on Hannukah, thanking God

A Reform Summer Camp’s Abbreviated Grace After Meals with Hand Motions

A Reform Summer Camp’s Abbreviated Grace After Meals with Hand Motions

This almost 3 minute video from URJ Camp Kalsman demonstrates how the campers and staff at this Reform camp recite

Nusach Ari Grace After Meals (Audio & Hebrew text)

Nusach Ari Grace After Meals (Audio & Hebrew text)

This post presents an almost 5 minute long audio recording and the Hebrew text for the Nusach Ari version of the

Yemenite/Baladi Grace After Meals (Hebrew Text)

Yemenite/Baladi Grace After Meals (Hebrew Text)

This post presents the Hebrew text for the Nusach Baladi Grace After Meals used by many Yemenite Jews. The blessing

Preliminary Psalms Recited Prior to the Grace After Meals

Preliminary Psalms Recited Prior to the Grace After Meals

This short excerpt from Wikipedia briefly presents the various customs as to which Psalms are traditionally recited prior to the

One Line Grace After Meals

One Line Grace After Meals

The one-line version of the Grace After Meals, presented below in Aramaic, English and transliterated, has been adopted for general use

By the Sweat of Their Brow: An Alternative Humanist Grace After Meals

By the Sweat of Their Brow: An Alternative Humanist Grace After Meals

This post offers two poems in Hebrew and English, excerpts from Dr. Tzemah Yoreh‘s work, “By the Sweat of their Brow,

Blessing the Spirit of All-which-Lives after Eating and Feeling Satiated: An Ecological Grace After Meals

Blessing the Spirit of All-which-Lives after Eating and Feeling Satiated: An Ecological Grace After Meals

This post provides the PDF file of “Haveri Nevarekh: Blessing the Spirit of All-which-Lives after Eating and Feeling Satiated: A Birkon” by

Ya Comimos: Ladino Prayer Following Grace After Meals

Ya Comimos: Ladino Prayer Following Grace After Meals

This post includes the lyrics for “Ya Comimos” in traditional Ladino, modern Ladino, and English. This poetic prayer is recited after the traditional

Conservative Ashkenazi Grace After Meals (Audio + Text)

Conservative Ashkenazi Grace After Meals (Audio + Text)

In this audio recording, Rabbi Barry Kenter of the Greenburgh Hebrew Center sings the Shabbat version of the Grace After Meals according

Bendigamos Al Altísimo: A Spanish Grace After Meals Hymn (Audio & Text)

Bendigamos Al Altísimo: A Spanish Grace After Meals Hymn (Audio & Text)

Bendigamos (literally “Let Us Bless”) is a Spanish hymn traditionally sung after meals by Jews of Spanish, Portuguese and Turkish descent (in

Reform Abbreviated Grace After Meals (Audio & Text)

Reform Abbreviated Grace After Meals (Audio & Text)

This post includes an audio recording of an abbreviated version of the Grace After Meals, accompanied by the Hebrew, English, and and

Complete Ashkenazi Grace After Meals (Hebrew Text)

Complete Ashkenazi Grace After Meals (Hebrew Text)

The following Hebrew text presents the Ashkenazi custom for the Grace After Meals from Tefillos.com. This is useful resource for Ashkenazi Jews

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Learn How

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Let’s Learn T’fillah: The First Paragraph of Ashkenazi Birkat Hamazon

Let’s Learn T’fillah: The First Paragraph of Ashkenazi Birkat Hamazon

This short animated video from Rabbi David Paskin demonstrates how to sing the first paragraph of the Ashkenazi Grace After Meals

How to Recite the Reform Abbreviated Grace After Meals

How to Recite the Reform Abbreviated Grace After Meals

In this instructional video, Rabbi Gary Pokras demonstrates how to recite the abbreviated version of the Grace After Meals for Shabbat

Laws and Customs Practiced in Preparation for the Grace After Meals

Laws and Customs Practiced in Preparation for the Grace After Meals

In this halachic discourse, Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir of the Orthodox Union, discusses the obligations and customs Jews practice before

How to Sing Ashkenazi Grace After Meals for Shabbat (with transliteration)

How to Sing Ashkenazi Grace After Meals for Shabbat (with transliteration)

This 13 minute video demonstrates how to sing the entire Ashkenazi version of the Grace After Meals for Shabbat using a popular

How to Sing the Abbreviated Grace After Meals for Shabbat (Reform)

How to Sing the Abbreviated Grace After Meals for Shabbat (Reform)

In this 7 minute video, Rabbi Micah Greenstein introduces and sings the abbreviated Grace After Meals for Shabbat according to the Reform

Beginning of Ashkenazi Grace After Meals (Audio & Text)

Beginning of Ashkenazi Grace After Meals (Audio & Text)

These recordings presents the beginning of the Grace After Meals according to Ashkenazi custom, sung with the modern Israeli pronunciation

Some Technical Laws of the Grace After Meals

Some Technical Laws of the Grace After Meals

In this highly technical article from Aish.com, Rabbis Chaim Gross and Shraga Simmons explain the sources, structure, and intricate halachot (laws)

Techincal Laws of the Grace After Meals

Techincal Laws of the Grace After Meals

This highly technical article from Halachipedia.com explains the detailed laws associated with reciting the Grace After Meals according to Orthodox tradition. Some questions answered

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Informative Articles & Videos

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“Benching” 101: The Origin, Stucture, Customs and History of the Grace After Meals

“Benching” 101: The Origin, Stucture, Customs and History of the Grace After Meals

This comprehensive introductory article by Kate Palley provides a thorough explanation for people of all knowledge levels on the origin, structure, customs, and history

Women and Zimmun

Women and Zimmun

This two page article by Jennifer Breger summarizes the complicated subject of a women’s participation in a “Zimmun,” (literally, “invitation”)

A Historical Approach to the Composition and Structure of the Grace After Meals

A Historical Approach to the Composition and Structure of the Grace After Meals

This thorough article by Rabbi Yizchak Etshalom outlines the structure of the Grace After Meals, explaining how the Biblical command to

Introduction to the Grace After Meals

Introduction to the Grace After Meals

This thorough and informative article explains the structure, content, and development of the Grace After Meals, as well as some

Why Say Bircat Hamazon? A Halachic and Spiritual Approach from Maimonides

Why Say Bircat Hamazon? A Halachic and Spiritual Approach from Maimonides

In this ten-minute video featured on Chabad.org, Rabbi Mendel Kaplan discusses the halachic and spiritual significance of the Grace After

A Brief Introduction to the Grace After Meals

A Brief Introduction to the Grace After Meals

This short post offers a basic overview of the Grace After Meals, including its biblical sources, an explanation of its

An Esoteric, Historical and Halachic Analysis of the Grace After Meals

An Esoteric, Historical and Halachic Analysis of the Grace After Meals

This 46 minute lecture from Chabad.org is an in-depth exploration of some esoteric, historical and halachic ideas around the Grace After

Rav Kook: Blessings Over Bread and Torah

Rav Kook: Blessings Over Bread and Torah

This excerpt, written by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, explores the dual benefits we gain from both eating and studying Torah,

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Music

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Piamenta’s Rock Song Inspired by the Grace After Meals

Piamenta’s Rock Song Inspired by the Grace After Meals

This video presents Yosi Piamenta’s original rock song inspired by the Grace After Meals. Although most of this 8 minute long song is

Fortuna Performs “Bendigamos” Sephardic Grace After Meals Hymn

Fortuna Performs “Bendigamos” Sephardic Grace After Meals Hymn

This video clip presents Brazilian singer, songwriter and actress, Fortuna, performing “Bendigamos Al Altísimo,” a Spanish hymn traditionally sung after meals by

Al HaNissim for Hannukah

Al HaNissim for Hannukah

Al HaNissim is a short paragraph added to the Amidah prayer and the Grace After Meals on Hannukah, thanking God

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: Shir Hama’alot

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: Shir Hama’alot

This audio recording features Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach singing his original melody for Psalm 126, Shir Hama’alot (Song of Ascents), which is widely recited by Ashkenazi Jews before the Grace

Meydad Tasa: “Al Naharot Bavel” (By the Rivers of Babylon)

Meydad Tasa: “Al Naharot Bavel” (By the Rivers of Babylon)

This music video features Medad Tasa singing a popular tune for the first six verses of Psalm 137 (By the

Bendigamos Al Altísimo: A Spanish Grace After Meals Hymn (Audio & Text)

Bendigamos Al Altísimo: A Spanish Grace After Meals Hymn (Audio & Text)

Bendigamos (literally “Let Us Bless”) is a Spanish hymn traditionally sung after meals by Jews of Spanish, Portuguese and Turkish descent (in

A Musical Version of Nusach Ari Grace After Meals

A Musical Version of Nusach Ari Grace After Meals

This almost 12 minute long audio recording presents the Nusach Ari version of the Grace After Meals sung slowly by

Spiritual Sustenance: Shoshannah’s Rendition of Popular Grace After Meals on Piano

Spiritual Sustenance: Shoshannah’s Rendition of Popular Grace After Meals on Piano

This audio clip presents internationally acclaimed composer and pianist, Shoshannah, performing the most popular tune for the Grace After Meals.

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What else?

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Marcia Falk’s Grace After Meals Prayer

Marcia Falk’s Grace After Meals Prayer

This excerpt from Marcia Falk‘s “The Book of Blessings” offers a short prayer based on the basic blessings of the Grace

Alternative Blessings, Food for Thought, and Thought for Food

Alternative Blessings, Food for Thought, and Thought for Food

This two page PDF document includes a variety of blessings, meditations, teachings and customs to be performed before, during and

Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi’s Creative Interpretation of the Grace After Meals

Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi’s Creative Interpretation of the Grace After Meals

This innovative translation of the Ashkenazi Grace After Meals by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, the father of the Jewish Renewal movement, brings

Mayim Achronim: Washing the Finger Tips Prior to Grace After Meals

Mayim Achronim: Washing the Finger Tips Prior to Grace After Meals

This brief post by Rabbi Baruch Davidson outlines the laws, customs and meaning behind the commandment to wash one’s fingertips

A Poetic Translation of Shir Hama’alot (Psalm 126)

A Poetic Translation of Shir Hama’alot (Psalm 126)

This post presents Shim’on Menachem’s poetic and nuanced translation and interpretation of Psalm 126, which is traditionally recited before the Grace After

Prayer for the Peace of Two States for Two Peoples (for the Birkat Hamazon)

Prayer for the Peace of Two States for Two Peoples (for the Birkat Hamazon)

This Hebrew and English text by Ira Tick is a prayer for a peaceful, just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Grace After Meals Meditation Based on Traditional Sources

Grace After Meals Meditation Based on Traditional Sources

This post suggests a Grace After Meals mediation for gratitude, intention, and blessing, based on two separate verses from Jewish

A Social Justice Themed Thanksgiving Adaptation of the Grace After Meals

A Social Justice Themed Thanksgiving Adaptation of the Grace After Meals

This post presents an English adaptation of the traditional Grace After Meals written by Interfaith Workers Justice, an American organization that

The Importance of Reciting the Grace After Meals (Yiddish)

The Importance of Reciting the Grace After Meals (Yiddish)

This 8 minute long video, which targets a Yiddish speaking audience, seeks to enlighten Orthodox Jews about the importance of the

A Creative Lesson Plan to Teach the Grace After Meals to Students

A Creative Lesson Plan to Teach the Grace After Meals to Students

This  twelve-part lesson plan from The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education aims to teach middle school students the meaning and purpose

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