Blessing after meals

Did you enjoy the food? Don't forget to thank the host. Are you the host? No, no... you're the guest, in God's world. So, when you finish eating, don't forget the blessing after meals.bircat haMazón), also called bentching.

What is a meal? For the purposes of bircat haMazón, A meal is anything that includes bread. How much bread? The size of a large olive, generally 28 grams.

If you didn't eat bread, there are other final blessings for food.

The procedure:

It is recited while seated, in the same place where you ate. Ideally, some bread should remain on the table.

First, some psalms are recited to ensure that Torah was discussed at the table. Then, the fingertips are washed (some people wipe their lips with wet fingers).

Then four blessings are recited aloud and clearly, in Hebrew, or in any language you understand. The first blessing was composed by Moses, the second by Joshua, the third by Kings David and Solomon, and the fourth by the Great Court of Yavneh, after the Bar Kokhba revolt. It concludes with a series of short prayers and verses.

If there are three or more adult men, one formally invites the others to recite the blessing. This is called Zimun. Some recite it with a glass of wine.

When it is Shabbat and/or a holiday, references to the special day are added amidst the blessings.

One can only say bircat haMazón If you are still digesting your food, about 72 minutes after eating.

For young children there is a really short version: “Blessed art God, King of the Universe, Lord of this bread.”.