Birkat Hamazon: Dependence, Gratitude, and Hope
The Source for Birkat Hamazon
(י) וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ׃

(10) When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

(יא) הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לְבִלְתִּ֨י שְׁמֹ֤ר מִצְוֺתָיו֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃
(11) Take care lest you forget the LORD your God and fail to keep His commandments, His rules, and His laws, which I enjoin upon you today.

What is the connection between the two pesukim (above)? Why are they listed right after each other? Hint: what's the connection between sustenance and forgetting God?

Reframing Material Success

(יד) וְרָ֖ם לְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְשָֽׁכַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ הַמּוֹצִיאֲךָ֛ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים׃ (טו) הַמּוֹלִ֨יכְךָ֜ בַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּדֹ֣ל וְהַנּוֹרָ֗א נָחָ֤שׁ ׀ שָׂרָף֙ וְעַקְרָ֔ב וְצִמָּא֖וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין־מָ֑יִם הַמּוֹצִ֤יא לְךָ֙ מַ֔יִם מִצּ֖וּר הַֽחַלָּמִֽישׁ׃ (טז) הַמַּֽאֲכִ֨לְךָ֥ מָן֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָדְע֖וּן אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן עַנֹּֽתְךָ֗ וּלְמַ֙עַן֙ נַסֹּתֶ֔ךָ לְהֵיטִֽבְךָ֖ בְּאַחֲרִיתֶֽךָ׃ (יז) וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כֹּחִי֙ וְעֹ֣צֶם יָדִ֔י עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֶת־הַחַ֥יִל הַזֶּֽה׃ (יח) וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כִּ֣י ה֗וּא הַנֹּתֵ֥ן לְךָ֛ כֹּ֖חַ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת חָ֑יִל לְמַ֨עַן הָקִ֧ים אֶת־בְּרִית֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {פ}

(14) beware lest your heart grow haughty and you forget the LORD your God—who freed you from the land of Egypt, the house of bondage; (15) who led you through the great and terrible wilderness with its seraph serpents and scorpions, a parched land with no water in it, who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock; (16) who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers had never known, in order to test you by hardships only to benefit you in the end— (17) and you say to yourselves, “My own power and the might of my own hand have won this wealth for me.” (18) Remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to get wealth, in fulfillment of the covenant that He made on oath with your fathers, as is still the case.

In your own words (and in one sentence), what is the theme of the above verses from Devarim?

טור יורה דעה רמז הלכות צדקה

ואל יעלה בלבו טינא לומר איך אחסר ממוני ליתנו לעניים כי יש לו לדעת שאין הממון שלו אלא פקדון לעשות בו רצון המפקיד וזה רצונו שיחלק לעניים ממנו

Tur, Yoreh Deah, 247, Laws of Tzedaka

Let a (morally) filthy thought not arise in a person's mind, to say: how can I (possibly) lose out on money by giving it to the poor? He should realize that the money isn't actually his, but rather trust to do with it the wishes of the Grantor and it is His wish to give a portion of it to the needy.

...שכשאוכל ושבע, אז הוא עלול לבעט, וכמוש"א אכלת שבעת כו' שכחת שם ד' אלקיך מלי כריסי זני בישי (ברכות ל"ב), לכן צוה השי"ת שכשיאכל וישבע יזכיר שם אלוד' בתודה ויברכנהו ויזכור כי הוא הנותן לך כח לעשות חיל ומידו לוקח האוכל למלאות נפשו כי ירעב, וזה שאמר בסמוך השמר לך פן תשכח כו' פן תאכל ושבעת כו' ורם לבבך ושכחת וזכרת כו' כי הוא הנותן לך כח לעשות חיל, הראה לנו טעם הברכה שלא יקשיח לבבו מדרכי השי"ת ועדותיו, וזה יתכן דוקא כשהוא שבע לא כשהוא רעב.

(10) You will eat and be full and you will bless Hashem. When a person eats and is full, he is more likely to rebel against Hashem...(It says in Masechet Berachot 32a) "filling his stomach is a type of sin." Therefore Hashem commanded that when a person eats and is satisfied he should mention Hashem and offer Him thanks by blessing Him. In this way the person will remember who gave him the strength to act, and from whose Hand he takes the food to ease his hunger. This explains the connection to the following verse, “Look out for yourself lest you forget Hashem, your God." Because He is the One who gives you strength to become wealthy [and to eat!]. The reason for [Birkat Hamazon] has been shown to us: so that a person will not harden his heart from the ways of Hashem and His testimony. And this might explain davka why [one says Birkat Hamazon] when he is full and not when he is hungry.

According to the Meshech Chochma (above) what is the reason we say Birkat Hamazon after eating and not before?

In what way do his comments fit with the verses from Devarim (above)?

Blessing 1: Dependence on Hashem

(א) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַזָּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בְּטוּבוֹ בְּחֵן בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים, הוּא נֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל־בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ הַגָּדוֹל תָּמִיד לֹא חָסַר לָנוּ וְאַל יֶחְסַר לָנוּ מָזוֹן (תָּמִיד) לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל כִּי הוּא אֵל זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וּמֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכָל־בְּרִיּוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ הַזָּן אֶת הַכֹּל.

(1) Blessed are you, Hashem our God, King of the universe, who feeds the whole world with your goodness, with grace, with loving-kindness and tender mercy; you give food to all flesh, for your loving-kindness endures for ever. Through your great goodness food has never failed us: may it not fail us forever and ever for your great name's sake, since you nourish and sustain all beings and do good for all, and provid food for all your creatures who you have created. Blessed are you, Hashem, who gives food unto all.

מֹשֶׁה תִּקֵּן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּרְכַּת ״הַזָּן״ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁיָּרַד לָהֶם מָן.

Moses instituted for Israel the first blessing of: Who feeds all [above], when the manna descended for them.

R' David Silverstein
By providing them with their daily food supply (the manna/man), God taught the Jewish people that, ultimately, it is God who is in control of their destiny. Regardless of any material success they may enjoy in the future, they must always remember the source of their prosperity. If we reflect on this blessing, it becomes clear that the introductory passage of Birkat HaMazon is intended to bring us back to the time when God was overtly the source of the Jewish people’s daily nourishment. While we do not personally experience this today, remembering that earlier time in Jewish history connects us with our national roots and reaffirms our theological commitment to viewing our own successes as gifts from God.

How does the above idea from Rabbi Silverstein relate to the Meshech Chochma that we saw previously?

Blessing 2: Birkat Hamazon and...ISRAEL?!

(א) נוֹדֶה לְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עַל שֶׁהִנְחַלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה...וְעַל הַכֹּל יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָךְ, יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָּל חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, כַּכָּתוּב: וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבַעְתָּ, וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת יְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ עַל הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶּׁר נָתַן לָךְ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, עַל הָאָרֶץ וְעַל הַמָּזוֹן.

(1) We thank you, Hashem our God, because you gave our fathers as a heritage a desirable, good and spacious land...For all this, Hashem our God, we thank and bless you, blessed be your name by the mouth of all living continually and forever, even as it is written, "And you will eat and be satisfied, and you will bless Hashem your God for the good land which he has given you." Blessed are you, Hashem, for the land and for the food.

The above passage from Birkat Hamazon clearly references the Land of Israel multiple times. At first glance, why do you think we mention Israel when we bentch?

בברכה הראשונה אנו עומדים על היסוד (fundamental idea) שה' הוא "הזן את הכל" (Hashem sustains/satiates all)

וכמו שנתן לנו את המן במדבר בדרך נס, כך תמיד (always) הוא מקיים (sustains) את הטבע (nature),

נמצא ששורש כל המזון שאנו אוכלים – ממנו יתברך בלבד (only)

בברכה השנייה אנו מברכים את ה' על כך שהעניק לנו (granted us) את האפשרות להיות שותפים (partners) בתיקון העולם ובהוצאת המזון מהארץ, ועל כן חתימת (the end of) הברכה – "על הארץ ועל המזון".

In the space above, please translate the source using the filled-in words to help you (if needed)!

According to Rav Melamed, what should our intention be when we mention the land/Israel during Birkat Hamazon?

Blessing 3: Birkat Hamazon...and Jerusalem?

(א) רַחֶם נָא יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ, וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירֶךָ, וְעַל צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ, וְעַל מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד מְשִׁיחֶךָ, וְעַל הַבַּיִת הַגָדוֹל וְהַקָדוֹשׁ שֶׁנִּקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלָיו. אֱלֹהֵינוּ, אָבִינוּ, רְעֵנוּ, זוּנֵנוּ, פַרְנְסֵנוּ וְכַלְכְּלֵנוּ וְהַרְוִיחֵנוּ, וְהַרְוַח לָנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מְהֵרָה מִכָּל צָרוֹתֵינוּ. וְנָא אַל תַּצְרִיכֵנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, לֹא לִידֵי מַתְּנַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְלֹא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם, כִּי אִם לְיָדְךָ הַמְּלֵאָה הַפְּתוּחָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהָרְחָבָה, שֶׁלֹא נֵבוֹשׁ וְלֹא נִכָּלֵם לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.

(יא) וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, בּוֹנֵה בְרַחֲמָיו יְרוּשָׁלַיִם. אָמֵן.

(1) Have mercy, O Lord our God, upon Israel your people, upon Jerusalem your city, upon Zion the abiding place of your glory, upon the kingdom of the house of David your anointed one, and upon the great and holy house that was called by your name. Our God, our Father, feed us, nourish us, sustain, support and relieve us, and speedily Hashem our God, grant us relief from all our troubles. We beseech you, Hashem our God, let us not be in need either of the gifts of flesh and blood or of their loans, but only of your helping hand, which is full, open, holy and ample, so that we may not be ashamed nor confounded for ever and ever.

And rebuild Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed are you, Hashem, who in your compassion rebuilds Jerusalem. Amen!

Rabbi David Silverstein
While the prayer originally composed by David and Solomon asked God to maintain a continued tranquil state of life in the Land of Israel, the text was eventually amended slightly after the destruction of the Temple and subsequent Jewish exile. Awareness of these slight liturgical changes reminds us of our ultimate messianic goal of returning to the Land of Israel, rebuilding the Temple, and establishing Jewish sovereignty. Meditating on these themes allows us to experience the continuous drama of Jewish history. Moreover, it prevents us from feeling content with the status quo. Material success and even returning to the land are means, and certainly not ends. Our ultimate national dream is to build a Jewish society affirming God’s vision for the world in the Land of Israel.

According to R' David Silverstein, why do we mention Jerusalem in Birkat Hamazon?

Blessing 4: Hope!

(א) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הָאֵל אָבִינוּ, מַלְכֵּנוּ, אַדִירֵנוּ, בּוֹרְאֵנוּ, גֹּאֲלֵנוּ, יוֹצְרֵנוּ, קְדוֹשֵׁנוּ קְדוֹשׁ יַעֲקֹב, רוֹעֵנוּ רוֹעֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַמֶּלֶךְ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּיטִיב לַכֹּל, שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם הוּא הֵיטִיב, הוּא מֵיטִיב, הוּא יֵיטִיב לָנוּ, הוּא גְמָלָנוּ, הוּא גוֹמְלֵנוּ, הוּא יִגְמְלֵנוּ לָעַד, לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים וּלְרֶוַח הַצָּלָה וְהַצְלָחָה, בְּרָכָה וִישׁוּעָה, נֶחָמָה פַּרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה וְרַחֲמִים וְחַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם, וְכָל טוֹב; וּמִכָּל טוּב לְעוֹלָם אַל יְחַסְּרֵנוּ.

(

(1) Blessed are you, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Hashem, our Father, our King, our Mighty One, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Maker, our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob, our Shepherd, the Shepherd of Israel, King! who is kind and deals kindly with all, day by day. You have dealt kindly, deals kindly, and will deal kindly with us: you have bestowed, you do bestow, you will foreever bestow benefits upon us, yielding us grace, lovingkindness, mercy and relief, deliverance and prosperity, blessing and salvation, consolation, sustenance and supports, mercy, life, peace and all good: of no manner of good let us be in want.

״הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב״ בְּיַבְנֶה תִּקְּנוּהָ כְּנֶגֶד הֲרוּגֵי בֵּיתָר. דְּאָמַר רַב מַתְנָא: אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם שֶׁנִּיתְּנוּ הֲרוּגֵי בֵּיתָר לִקְבוּרָה תִּקְנוּ בְּיַבְנֶה ״הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב״. ״הַטּוֹב״ — שֶׁלֹּא הִסְרִיחוּ, ״וְהַמֵּטִיב״ — שֶׁנִּיתְּנוּ לִקְבוּרָה.

[The Rabbis] instituted the blessing: Who is good and does good [above], at Yavneh (!) in reference to the slain Jews of the city of Beitar at the culmination of the Bar Kokheva rebellion. They were ultimately brought to burial after a period during which Hadrian refused to permit their burial. As Rav Mattana said: On the same day that the slain of Beitar were brought to burial, they instituted the blessing: Who is good and does good, at Yavne. Who is good, thanking God that the corpses did not decompose while awaiting burial, and does good, thanking God that they were ultimately brought to burial.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
The fact that the sages were able to salvage a fragment of consolation from the fact that the dead were not denied the dignity of burial is testimony to an extraordinary ability to survive catastrophe and preserve the lineaments of hope.

What does "lineaments" mean? Just kidding. Apparently it means "a distinctive feature or characteristic."

How does the historical context of the 4th blessing shape its meaning?