ברכת המזון

Devar Torah for Parashat Ekev, Shabbos Mevorchim.

לע"נ חיה אטה בת דבורה ומאיר ז"ל.

לע"נ זבולון בן סעדיה ז"ל.

HEAVENLY ABUNDANCE THROUGH BIRKAT HAMAZONE, BENCHING, SAYING GRACE AFTER EATING BREAD.

Rabeinu Bachai writes that the commandment to say Birkat Hamazone after eating bread is the only place in the whole Torah where Hashem commands us to bless Him.

Blessing Hashem after eating bread is a mitzvah from the Torah, as it says in our parasha,

ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ה' אלוקיך.

You will eat and you will be satisfied and bless Hashem, your G-d.

It is an ancient practice to bless Hashem who provides us with all viability. The Gemorah tells us about our father Abraham who hosted guests in his tent, fed them and gave them drink, and afterwards taught them to bless the Creator for providing what we need for subsistence.

The Kotzsker Rebbe explained that from Birkat Hamazone Abraham was introducing the concept of thanking Hashem for all of the gifts which He provides for us. By blessing Him, a man becomes more G-d fearing and kosher, straight and legitimate.

The Rashba writes that even before Moshe made the ordinance of Birkat Hamazone, the children of Israel benched, made blessings, after eating.

The Maharsha explains that this was common knowledge. It was known that maintaining one's livelihood and rendering provisions for basic needs is more difficult than splitting the Red Sea. This is because there are opposing forces to stop one from finding means of support, and by blessing Hashem after eating, Hashem sends him blessings of abundance to give him means for obtaining his existence.

The Ben Ish Chai writes from the Zohar that by blessing Birkat Hamazone with joy and good intentions from one's heart, he triggers a series of profusions from the upper worlds to the people of Israel. The Beer Myim Chaim says that at that time one can draw for himself and for the whole world Hashem's blessings.

The Ramah from Pano writes that in the time of the Great Temple, the Kohenim, the priests, who ate from the "Lechem Hapanim" bread, would generate from their Birkat Hamazone, heavenly blessing which would last for all six coming weekdays.

The Gemorah says, Moshe Rabeinu instituted the form of the first blessing of Birkat Hamazone when Hashem brought down Manna for Bnei Israel to eat in the desert. Yehoshua coined the second blessing when Hashem brought the children of Israel into the land of Israel. King David and King Shlomo composed the text of the third blessing when we came into Jerusalem and built the Great Temple. The fourth blessing was drafted by Raban Gamliel and the Sages in Yavne after the miracle that the Martyrs from Betar were allowed to be buried.

Each of these blessings correspond to a letter from Hashem's 4 letter Hebrew name, Havaya.

The first blessing has the power to bring Hashem's mercy and goodness for the entire world. The second blessing alludes to the mercy Hashem bestows to the land of Israel. The third blessing generates Hashem's compassion on Israel and on Jerusalem and on the Kingdom of the house of David.

The Komerna Rebbe says that only the first three blessings are from the Torah, while the fourth blessing is an addition to give thanksgiving to Hashem.

The Ramah from Pano tells us that Abraham gave the three angels who visited him bread to eat, so that they could say Birkat Hamazone. He writes that saying Birkat Hamazone was considered their heavenly eating. There is a sect of angels in heaven whose spiritual eating and pleasure derives from Jews eating and drinking in this world, and giving honour to Hashem for their sustenance by saying Birkat Hamazone.

The laws of Birkat Hamazone are like the laws regarding reciting the silent prayer. However, the Magid of Mezritz said that we should be even more careful with benching, saying grace after meals, because it is from the Torah, while davening is only rabbinic.

The Matei Moshe says that when we say Birkat Hamazone, the sword of the Angel of Death remains immobilised.

The Midrash Talpiot warns to read Birkat Hamazone correctly from a prayer book or birkon, bencher, because the letters of the words induce good intentions.

The Zohar writes, Birkat Hamazone is precious to Hashem. When one benches with joy, it engenders Hashem's generosity to bestow blessings for wealth, happiness, and abundance. The Chida explains that we learn this from the pasuk in Mishlei,

ברכת ה' היא תעשיר ולא תוסיף.

Birkat Hamazone makes joyous people wealthy.

Rabbi Chaim Falag'y explains the pasuk from Tehillim,

קולי שמעה כחסדך ה' כמשפטך חייני.

One who recites Birkat Hamazone out loud will influence Hashem to lengthen his life, and merit to reach old age.

The Rav HaAderet was cautious to eat bread every day, even though it was difficult for him to do so, in order to merit to fulfill the mitzvah of Birkat Hamazone.

The Rebbe from Amshinov once visited someone who was making a meal, and he implored the Rebbe to join him. The Rebbe replied, of course I rely on your Kashruth, but if I wash for eating bread, then I will need three hours for reciting Birkat Hamazone!

Good Shabbos!

Candle 🕯️ lighting: 18:49

Motzei Shabbat: 19:57

Rabeinu Tam: 20:39

Say Shma before:

First opinion: 8:36

Second opinion: 9:25

Mevorchim Chodesh Ellul.

Rosh Chodesh on Shabbat Parashat Reei and the following Sunday.

Molad: Shabbos day, 8:16, and 5 parts.