Chapter 51: 7-9
Blessings After Eating
7. [Deuteronomy 8:8] praises Eretz Yisroel as "a land of wheat, barley,
vines, figs, pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey," mentioning seven
species. Afterwards, the Torah continues [ibid.910] "a land where you will
not eat bread in poverty... you shall eat, and be satisfied, and bless G-d,
your Lord."
Since the Torah specifically states with regard to bread: "you shall eat,
and be satisfied, and bless G-d, your Lord," any bread which is made from
the five species of grain - i.e., wheat and barley which are explicitly
mentioned in the above verse, and rye, oats and spelt, which are included
in the categories of wheat and barley - requires the recitation of the
grace after meals.
That prayer includes three blessings [whose sources is in the Torah itself]
and the blessing hatov v'hameitiv (which was instituted afterwards by the
Sages in Yavneh). Any food made from these species of grain which is not
proper bread requires the recitation of the b'rochoh achronoh referred to
as the "single threefold blessing," for it includes a summary of the first
three blessings of grace as well as the blessing hatov v'hameitiv.
[A different form of] this blessing is also recited after drinking wine,
eating grapes - whether fresh grapes or raisins, whether they be small or
large - and similarly, after eating figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates -
the latter is the "honey" mentioned in the verse.
8. The "single threefold blessing" recited over grain products begins al
hamichyoh v'al hakalkoloh (for the sustenance and nourishment) and
concludes: v'nodeh l'cho al ho'oretz v'al hamichyoh. Boruch Attoh
A-d-o-n-o-i al ho'oretz v'al hamichyoh v'asl hakalkoloh (and we offer
thanks to You for the land and for the sustenance. Blessed are You, G-d,
for the land, for the sustenance, and for the nourishment.)*
* {Most authorities do not include v'al hakalkoloh (and for the
nourishment) in the conclusion of the blessing.}
On wine, one begins al hagofen v'asl pri hagofen. Boruch Attoh A-d-o-n-o-i
al ho'oretz v'al pri hagofen (and we offer thanks to Your for the land and
for the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, G-d, for the land and for the
fruit of the vine).
On fruits, one begins al ho'eitz v'al hapeiros. Boruch Attoh A-d-o-n-o-i al
ho'oretz v'al hapeiors (and we offer thanks to You for the land and for the
fruit. Blessed are You, G-d, for the land and for the fruit).
(In Eretz Yisroel, or even in the Diaspora if one eats fruit from Eretz
Yisroel one concludes al ho'oretz v'al peirosehoh - "for the land and its
fruit.")
A person who ate grain products and drank wine includes them both in the
same blessing. The same applies should one eat from these species of fruit
- even grapes - and drink wine or eat grain products together with these
fruits. Even if one partakes of grain products, wine and these fruits, all
three can be included in one blessing. One should mention al hamichyoh
first, then al hagofen, and then al ho'eitz.
When one includes al hamichyoh together with other types, one should not
mention v'al hakalkoloh in the conclusion of the blessing. Rather, one
should say: Boruch Attoh A-d-o-n-o-i al ho'oretz v'al hamichyoh v'al pri
hagofen, ...al ho'oretz v'al hamichyoh v'al hapeiors, or ...al ho'oretz
v'al hamichyoh v'al pri hagofen v'al hapeiors.
The text for this blessing is printed in the Siddurim. Every Jewish person
should know this blessing by heart.
9. On the Sabbath, on festivals, and on Rosh Chodesh, the unique aspect of
the day should be mentioned in this blessing. However, if it is omitted,
one need not repeat the blessing.
