* Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
"And you shall eat, be satisfied, and bless.” These words that appear in this week’s Torah portion are the source for Birkat HaMazon, the prayer recited after eating a meal with bread. In fact, before and after eating, we stop to acknowledge, bless, and thank God. Here is a beautiful explanation of this mitzvah from Rabbi Aharoni Bernstein:
“It is worthwhile to listen to the story that food is telling us. The presence of God in the plate in front of us is both astonishing and uplifting.
These feelings begin with the blessing before we eat. The plate is full of colorful food, the stomach is grumbling, but we stop in order to offer thanks. This sudden delay before attacking the food grants us the power of restraint, a heroic power.
After eating, when we want to quickly continue on our way, we stop again in order to bless. Birkat HaMazon teaches us to look back, to honor and to thank God for the favor of providing us with food.
Birkat MaMazon teaches us that delayed gratification is supremely gratifying.
When we sanctify eating we discover that food is the bridge that connects us to God. Eating becomes a profound event, much more than just an opportunity to refuel. Keep this in mind the next time you sit down to eat.
B’tei’avon.”
