(Birkat ha-Mazon). A series of blessings and prayers recited after any meal where Bread is eaten. Saying Grace takes its authority from a verse in the Pentateuch: "When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you" (Deut. 8:10). This is the source quoted by the rabbis (Ber. 3:4; 21a, 44a), who determined the basic formulation of Grace and ruled that it may be recited in any language (Sot. 7.1). A specified minimal quantity of food ("the size of an olive") must have been eaten, diners retain their places, and while Grace is said it is customary to remove knives from the table, on which, however, some bread is left. Certain Jews also maintain the ancient practice of dipping their fingers in water (Mayim Aḥaronim) beforehand.
When at least three males above the age of 13 have eaten together, an "invitation" to say Grace known as Birkat ha-Zimmun is first recited by one of them (Ber. 7:1-5; 49b-50a). Slightly different forms of summons and response have been preserved in the various rites, but all give praise to "the One of whose bounty we have partaken." If a quorum (Minyan) of at least ten males is present, the word Elohénu ("our God") is included in the summons and response; and if kohanim (priests) or rabbis are among the diners, their presence is verbally acknowledged. Ashkenazim still occasionally recite the opening invitation in Yiddish, the saying of Grace then being called Bentshen. Although the Mishnah (Ber. 7:2) disallowed the inclusion of women and minors among those counted, three or more women who have eaten together have the Talmud's authorization to form a zimmun of their own (Ber. 45b). Sephardim also allow a boy of at least six years of age to be included if he can recite Grace and understand its meaning. Originally, the rabbis stipulated that "the householder breaks bread and the guest says Grace ... in order to bless the host" (Ber. 46a), but nowadays anyone at the table may be honored with leading the Grace after Meals.
On Sabbaths, festivals, and other happy occasions, Psalm 126 (Shir Ha-Ma'Alot) is usually sung prior to the full Grace by Ashkenazim, who sometimes add four other verses from Psalms (145:2, 115:18, 118:1, and 106:2). Sephardi and Italian Jews often substitute Psalm 67. The practice of chanting Psalm 137 on weekdays has latterly fallen into abeyance.
Structurally, Grace after Meals consists of four benedictions, three ancient and one Mishnaic, interspersed with various prayers of a seasonal nature and sundry personal and national petitions. The first blessing, traditionally ascribed to Moses (Ber. 48b), is of a universal character, praising God for sustaining all His creatures with food. The second, attributed to Joshua, is a national expression of thanks for the deliverance from Egypt, God's covenant with Israel, and the land which He gave to His people; on ḥanukkah and Purim, the Al Ha-Nissim prayer is introduced here. The third of these older blessings, ascribed jointly to David and Solomon, beseeches God to provide Israel with relief from want and humiliation and to vindicate His people by restoring Jerusalem. An extra prayer is inserted here on the Sabbath, while Ya'Aleh Ve-Yavo is recited on the New Moon, Pilgrim Festivals, and the New Year.
Traditionally composed after 135 CE by the sages of Yavneh, the fourth and last blessing acknowledges all the benefits for which God has to be thanked. This is followed by a series of petitions, each invoking "the All-Merciful" or "Compassionate One" (Ha-Raḥaman). Only four such petitions are recited by Yemenite Jews and nine by Ashkenazim, whereas the number increases to 18 in the Sephardi rite and to 22 in the Italian ("Roman") liturgy. Common to most, however, are prayers for Israel's speedy redemption from "the yoke of exile" and for the household in which the meal has taken place, as well as appropriate insertions for special occasions. Whenever the Additional Service is recited on that particular day, Grace concludes with Migdal Yeshu'ot ("A tower of salvation," II Sam. 22:51), Oseh Shalom (a prayer for peace), and other verses; otherwise, Magdil Yeshu'ot ("Great salvation," Ps. 18:51) replaces the first verse. On certain festive occasions, when three or more have said Grace together, a blessing is recited over a glass of wine drunk at the end. Sephardim may also chant the Bendigamos hymn in Judeo-Spanish.
Special introductory formulas and other passages are added to Grace after Meals in a house of Mourning and at the meal following a Circumcision or at a wedding feast (see Marriage). On the basis of talmudic law (Ber. 16a, 44a, etc.), various shorter forms of Grace are prescribed for workers, children, soldiers, and other persons whose time is limited, while Grace may also be abbreviated to one "final benediction" (berakhah aḥaronah), summarizing the first three paragraphs. Reform Judaism in English-speaking countries has substituted a brief English text for the traditional Grace, retaining only the end of the first benediction in Hebrew. Conservative Judaism preserves the traditional text, adding special Ha-Raḥaman prayers for the State of Israel, Jews suffering persecution, and a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah. The tendency in non-Orthodox communities is for women to be counted with men in the zimmun "invitation" to say Grace.
