Parshas Eikev
Please, Please Pass the Bread!
“And you shall eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless Hashem, for the good land that He has given you.” (Devarim 8:10)
The Torah gives us a mitzvah, obligating us to say Birchas HaMazon after eating a meal consisting of at least 1 regular-size slice of bread. “And you shall eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless Hashem, for the good land that He has given you” (Devarim 8:10).
On Motzei Shabbos, the Klausenberger Rebbe, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam zt”l, would lead a lengthy program (tisch) for his followers. Once, long after the conclusion of the program, he wanted to eat bread again, specifically to be able to bentch one more time. He did so because he was worried lest he had not concentrated properly the first time that he had bentched, hours before. Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter zt”l, was the 6th Gerrer Rebbe. His son was asked at which part of the seder his father displayed the most heartfelt devotion. His answer was the Birchas Hamazon. Rabbi Mordechai Schwab zt”l could spend 25 minutes reciting the Birchas HaMazon! One year, before Rosh Hashana, Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l ,who was already well into his 90’s, accepted upon himself a “kabbalah” an obligation for the upcoming year. He accepted to bentch only from a bentcher, and not by heart. (Touched by His Blessing by Rabbi Yechiel Spero)
Interestingly, there are some people who purposely will not eat bread because they prefer not to be “bothered” by having to recite the Birchas HaMazon. Or they may recite Birchas HaMazon quickly, with minimal concentration. Yet, it is apparent from the actions of the great people mentioned above, that there is something very special about reciting Birchas HaMazon slowly, from a bentcher, and with concentration. If all of us appreciated the value of Birchas Hamazon, then we would rush to eat bread to be able to recite Birchas HaMazon!
What is the secret of Birchas HaMazon? What is so special about it that it elicited such responses from great people?
It is the only bracha which is directly mandated by the Torah, rather than by the rabbis. It involves much more than thanking Hashem for food. In Birchas HaMazon, we express our gratitude to Hashem and gratitude is the essence of our relationship with Hashem. When we bentch, we express our yearning and thanks. We verbalize our appreciation for the privilege of dwelling together with the Shechinah, Hashem’s Holy Presence. We are thankful to Hashem for providing for all our needs.
Moshe Rabbeinu established the 1st bracha of Birchas Hamazon, upon seeing the manna fall in the desert after the Jews left Egypt. In that bracha we acknowledge the fact that Hashem provides sustenance to all. The 2nd bracha was established by Yehoshua. In that bracha we express our gratitude for Eretz Yisroel and the fruit that it bears.
Why isn’t the order of the first two brachos reversed? Shouldn’t we be expressing our gratitude and appreciation right away?
Rabbi Yechiel Spero (Touched by His Blessing by Rabbi Yechiel Spero) says that perhaps this can be explained using a thought from Rav Yitzchak Hutner zt”l (Pachad Yitzchak, Chanukah 2:2). To properly give thanks, one must first recognize and acknowledge the gift that he has received. Once we understand that Hashem sustains the entire world, is the source of our livelihood, and all that we are blessed with, then we can express our gratitude for all the good that Hashem bestows upon us.
Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 430) writes, “I have a tradition from my teachers that whoever is meticulous regarding Birchas Hamazon will have his parnasah, his livelihood, available for him in a dignified manner all his life.”
There are also many other blessings, including finding one’s marriage partner, that one receives for reciting Birchas HaMazon with concentration
The Roke’ach says that one who davens or recites Birchas HaMazon with concentration, merits 100 types of roses that surround the river of Gan Eden.
The Talmud (Brachos 48B) quotes Rav Nacḥman who explains the basis of the first four brachos of Birchas HaMazon. He says that Moshe Rabbeinu instituted the first bracha when the manna descended for the Jews. In that bracha, we acknowledge that Hashem provides food for everyone. Yehoshua instituted the second bracha after the Jews entered Eretz Yisroel. In that bracha we thank Hashem for giving us Eretz Yisroel. King David and King Shlomo each instituted part of the third bracha, “Who builds Yerushalayim”. As King David conquered the city, he instituted, “…on Yisroel Your people and on Yerushalayim Your city…”. As King Shlomo built the Temple, he instituted, “…on the great and Holy Temple…”. The Rabbis in Yavneh, led by Rabban Gamliel, instituted the fourth bracha, “Who is good and does good …”. It refers to the slain Jews of the city of Beitar at the end of the Bar Kochva rebellion. These holy souls were initially denied burial by the decree of Hadrianus, and the bodies were stored adjacent to a vineyard for some years. They were ultimately brought to burial. “Who is good”, thanks Hashem that the corpses did not decompose while awaiting burial, “and does good”, thanks Hashem that Hadrian’s initial decree was reversed and that they were ultimately brought to burial.
The Talmud continues, showing how each bracha is alluded to in the Torah.
The Rashba (Talmud Brachos 48B) asks a question. The Talmud illustrates how the specific brachos of Birchas HaMazon are indicated in the Torah, proving that each of the brachos are a Torah obligation. If so, what does the Gemorah mean when it says that the brachos were instituted by Moshe Rabbeinu, Yehoshua, Kings Dovid & Shlomo, and the rabbis of Yavneh? Minchas Chinuch (430) explains that Moshe and the others determined the messages that the brachos should contain. The actual text was established by Ezra and his Beis Din. It is all based on the pasuk in the Torah (Devarim 8:10).
Bentching the Birchas HaMazon is a mitzvah from the Torah. It is an appropriate show of appreciation to Hashem. It is the vehicle that can bring us many Heavenly blessings when we recite it with concentration. May Hashem always shower his blessings upon us.
