1 Likro et Hahallel
2 La'asot Ma'akeh
3 Hanoon Hamarbeh L'sloah
4 Al Nitilat Yadayim
5 Melekh Ohev Tzedakah U'mishpat
6 Dayan Ha'emeth
7 Leshev Ba'Sukkah
8 Lasok b'divrei Torah
9 Kiddush levana
10 Asher yatzar
11 Borei Pri Ha'eitz
12 HaMotzi
13 SheHakol Nihiyeh B'dvaro
14 Shehechiyanu
15 Lihitattef Batzitzit
16 Likboah Mezuzah
17 L'hadlik ner shel hannukah
18 She'asah nisim lavoteinu byamim hahem bazman hazeh
19 HaGomel L'Chayavim tovot, shegimalani kol tov
20 Malbish Arumim
21 L'hadlik ner shel Shabbat
22 Borei pri Hagafen
23 Hazan et HaKol
24 L'havchin bein yom u'vein layla
25 lhanot bahem b'nai adam.
26 borei minei mizonot
27 HaMachazir neshamot lifgarim matim
28 l'hachniso b'brito shel avraham avinu
29 al mikra megillah
30 shomeah tephillah
31 noten hatorah
32 sh'asani b'tzalmo
33 al biur hametz
34 al sefirat ha'omer
35 et amo yisrael bashalom.
36 Haham HaRazim
37 haolam Borei Minei Bisamim
38 matir asurim
39 shepratani meansho shel zeh
40 zokeif kifufim
41 HaBocher  b'amo yisrael b'ahava
42 hamavdil bein kodesh lechol
43 borei meorei haeish
44 magen avraham
45 shover oyvim umachnea zaydim
46 Mikadeish HaShabbat
47 boreh pri ha'adamah
48 al ha'aretz v'al hamazon
49 michayei HaMaitim
50 yotzer ha'adam
51 boneh berachamav yerushalayim
52 she'asani kirtzono

Bracha #23

This blessing can be found on page 758 of Siddur Sim Shalom.

This is the hatimah (the conclusion) of the first bracha of the grace after meals, known as Birkat HaMazon. According the law the full birkat hamazon is recited only after eating a meal over which HaMotzi has been recited. Just as there are special brachot for each type of food that is eaten, there are different correlate brachot that follow each type of food. Just as HaMotzi "covers" all foods eaten with thin the context of a meal, so too Birkat Hamazon "covers" all foods eaten within that same meal.

The Birkat HaMazon technically includes a series of brachot and other references. Though there are references to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and to our release from the bondage of Egypt, it is this first bracha that is most instructive. As I have stated in other brachot, if we are ready to ask God for assistance in any specific task in our lives, we must be willing to work toward achieving those goals ourselves. Such is the case with this bracha.

Implicit in the words, "Who satisfies all" is the idea that God has given the world enough resources to sustain the mass of humanity. There is enough food to feed all of the hungry in the world. God has provided us with it. The problem is distribution. That is our task in the partnership with God. There are storehouses of grain that exist even in this country that are left untouched so that the prices of wheat can remain level. Food prices that remain unscathed while people around the globe starve.

But that is not the entirety of the problem. Tons of food arte thrown to waste everyday because we lack an expedient method for distribution of foods that have been made and cannot be brought to those who need it. There are organizations that pick up food after parties to bring to shelters, but those groups are far and few between. The answer to this problem must come from two directions. First, we must think twice before planning extravagant affairs in which three of the four entrée choices are discarded. Second we must find a way to fund institutions that will help bring the leftovers to those who have been marginalized in our society.

At the end of each meal we thank God for the food we have eaten. Not only do we acknowledge God as provider of food before we eat, we remember God is the source of sustenance even after our stomachs are full. In keeping with the mandate of the Torah "V'achalata V'savata, Uverachta (Deuteronomy 8:10), You ate, you were satisfied and you gave thanks," we recite the Birkat HaMazon. That, however, is not enough. We must then get up from the table and work to bring food to those who have not been seated by our sides.

Copyright © 2001 Rabbi Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved.