How to Recite the Birkat Hamazon

The Birkat Hamazon is Hebrew for "Blessing on Nourishment" and is also known as the Grace After Meals. It is a set of blessings in Hebrew that follows any meal with bread made from barley, oats, rye, spelt or wheat. There is some dispute as to whether the Birkat Hamazon is also required for foods that are similar to bread, like pizza. Here's how to recite the Birkat Hamazon.

Instructions

1. Find the Birkat Hamazon in almost all Siddurim (prayer books). It also may be found in birchon booklets in Hebrew. This booklet is also called a bentcher in Yiddish by Jews of eastern European descent.

2. Read the Birkat Hamazon silently as a form of prayer for ordinary meals. This requirement is followed by Conservative and Orthodox Jews but may not be practiced by many moderately observant Jews.

3. Chant or sing the Birkat Hamazon for special meals commemorating festivals, the Sabbath or other special occasions.

4. Recite the 4 blessings of Birkat Hamazon. The first blessing is for the food, the second is for the Land of Israel, the third is a blessing for Jerusalem and the fourth blessing is for God's goodness.

5. Say the series of short prayers after the Birkat Hamazon that ask for God's compassion. Additional sections are said for special occasions. The extra paragraph of Ya'aleh Veyavo is included on Jewish holidays, the Retzeh is included on the Sabbath and Al HaNissim is included for Hanukkah and Purim.

Resources

• Find out more about reciting the Birkat Hamazon.