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Election 2026

The results of the 27 October vote

Birkat HaMazon, Grace After Meals

The four blessings said after a meal with bread: for the food, for the land, for Jerusalem and for God’s goodness. The additions for Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, the festivals, Hanukkah and Purim are marked at their place.

The text of the prayer

The English under each line is Israel.com's own plain-English meaning, not a printed translation.

Ashkenaz

Psalm 137, customarily said on weekdays before the blessing

עַל־נַהֲרוֹת בָּבֶל שָׁם יָשַׁבְנוּ גַּם־בָּכִינוּ בְּזָכְרֵנוּ אֶת־צִיּוֹן: עַל־עֲרָבִים בְּתוֹכָהּ תָּלִינוּ כִּנֹּרוֹתֵינוּ: כִּי שָׁם שְׁאֵלוּנוּ שׁוֹבֵינוּ דִּבְרֵי־שִׁיר וְתוֹלָלֵינוּ שִׂמְחָה שִׁירוּ לָנוּ מִשִּׁיר צִיּוֹן: אֵיךְ נָשִׁיר אֶת־שִׁיר־יְהֹוָה עַל אַדְמַת נֵכָר: אִם־אֶשְׁכָּחֵךְ יְרוּשָׁלָםִ תִּשְׁכַּח יְמִינִי: תִּדְבַּק לְשׁוֹנִי לְחִכִּי אִם־לֺא אֶזְכְּרֵכִי אִם־לֺא אַעֲלֶה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַםִ עַל רֹאשׁ שִׂמְחָתִי: זְכֹר יְהֹוָה לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם אֵת יוֹם יְרוּשָׁלָםִ הָאֹמְרִים עָרוּ עָרוּ עַד הַיְסוֹד בָּהּ: בַּת־בָּבֶל הַשְּׁדוּדָה אַשְׁרֵי שֶׁיְּשַׁלֶּם־לָךְ אֶת־גְּמוּלֵךְ שֶׁגָּמַלְתְּ לָנוּ: אַשְׁרֵי שֶׁיֹּאחֵז וְנִפֵּץ אֶת־עֹלָלַיִךְ אֶל־הַסָּלַע:

A psalm of longing for Zion, sung by the exiles who sat and wept by the rivers of Babylon.

Psalm 126, customarily said on Shabbat and festivals before the blessing

שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת בְּשׁוּב יְהֹוָה אֶת־שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן הָיִינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים: אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּינוּ וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה, אָז יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם הִגְדִּיל יְהֹוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עִם־אֵלֶּה: הִגְדִּיל יְהֹוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּנוּ, הָיִינוּ שְׂמֵחִים: שׁוּבָה יְהֹוָה אֶת־שְׁבִיתֵנוּ כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּגֶב: הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה, בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ: הָלוֹךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכֹה, נֹשֵׂא מֶשֶׁךְ־הַזָּרַע, בֹּא־יָבֹא בְרִנָּה, נֹשֵׂא אֲלֻמֹּתָיו:

A psalm of homecoming: when God brought the exiles back to Zion it felt like a dream, and their mouths filled with laughter and song. It asks that those who sow in tears reap with joy.

The call to bless, said when three or more have eaten together

רַבּוֹתַי נְבָרֵךְ:

The call to the others to join in the blessing.

יְהִי שֵׁם יְהֹוָה מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם:

“May God’s name be blessed, now and forever.”

יְהִי שֵׁם יְהֹוָה מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם:

The same words, said a second time.

בִּרְשׁוּת מָרָנָן וְרַבָּנָן וְרַבּוֹתַי נְבָרֵךְ (אֱלֺהֵינוּ) שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ:

Asking leave of those present, the leader says that they will bless the One whose food they have eaten. The words in brackets are an alternative that some editions print.

בָּרוּךְ (אֱלֺהֵינוּ) שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ חָיִינוּ:

“Blessed is the One whose food we have eaten, and by whose goodness we live.”

בָּרוּךְ וּמְבוֹרָךְ שְׁמוֹ תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

“Blessed and praised is His name, always and forever.”

בָּרוּךְ (אֱלֺהֵינוּ) שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ חָיִינוּ:

The words of thanks for the meal, said again.

בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּבָרוּךְ שְׁמוֹ:

“Blessed is He, and blessed is His name.”

First blessing, for the food

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַזָּן אֶת־הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בְּטוּבוֹ בְּחֵן בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים הוּא נוֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל־בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ הַגָּדוֹל תָּמִיד לֺא־חָסַר לָנוּ וְאַל־יֶחְסַר לָנוּ מָזוֹן לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל כִּי הוּא אֵל זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וּמֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכָל־בְּרִיּוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַזָּן אֶת־הַכֹּל:

Blessed are You, God, who feeds the whole world with goodness, grace, kindness and mercy. You give bread to every living thing, for Your kindness never ends. Because Your great goodness has never left us without food, may we never lack it, for the sake of Your great name. You feed and sustain everyone, You do good to all, and You prepare food for all the creatures You made. Blessed are You, God, who feeds everyone.

Second blessing, for the land

נוֹדֶה לְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ עַל שֶׁהִנְחַלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה וְעַל שֶׁהוֹצֵאתָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּפְדִיתָנוּ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים וְעַל בְּרִיתְךָ שֶׁחָתַמְתָּ בִּבְשָׂרֵנוּ וְעַל תּוֹרָתְךָ שֶׁלִּמַּדְתָּנוּ וְעַל חֻקֶּיךָ שֶׁהוֹדַעְתָּנוּ וְעַל חַיִּים חֵן וָחֶסֶד שֶׁחוֹנַנְתָּנוּ וְעַל אֲכִילַת מָזוֹן שָׁאַתָּה זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס אוֹתָנוּ תָּמִיד בְּכָל־יוֹם וּבְכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה:

We thank You, God, for the good and wide land You gave our ancestors as an inheritance; for taking us out of Egypt and freeing us from slavery; for the covenant You sealed in our flesh, the Torah You taught us and the laws You made known to us; for the life, grace and kindness You gave us; and for the food with which You feed and sustain us every day, at every time and every hour.

Added on Hanukkah and Purim: the opening, then the paragraph of the day

וְעַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַפֻּרְקָן וְעַל הַגְּבוּרוֹת וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה:

For the miracles, the rescue, the mighty deeds and the salvations You brought about for our ancestors in those days, at this season.

בִּימֵי מַתִּתְיָהוּ בֶּן־יוֹחָנָן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל חַשְׁמוֹנַאי וּבָנָיו כְּשֶׁעָמְדָה מַלְכוּת יָוָן הָרְשָׁעָה עַל־עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַשְׁכִּיחָם תּוֹרָתֶךָ וּלְהַעֲבִירָם מֵחֻקֵּי רְצוֹנֶךָ: וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים עָמַדְתָּ לָהֶם בְּעֵת צָרָתָם רַבְתָּ אֶת־רִיבָם דַּנְתָּ אֶת־דִּינָם נָקַמְתָּ אֶת־נִקְמָתָם מָסַרְתָּ גִבּוֹרִים בְּיַד חַלָּשִׁים וְרַבִּים בְּיַד מְעַטִּים וּטְמֵאִים בְּיַד טְהוֹרִים וּרְשָׁעִים בְּיַד צַדִּיקִים וְזֵדִים בְּיַד עוֹסְקֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ וּלְךָ עָשִׂיתָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ בְּעוֹלָמֶךָ וּלְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל עָשִׂיתָ תְּשׁוּעָה גְדוֹלָה וּפֻרְקָן כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וְאַחַר כַּךְ בָּאוּ בָנֶיךָ לִדְבִיר בֵּיתֶךָ וּפִנּוּ אֶת הֵיכָלֶךָ וְטִהֲרוּ אֶת מִקְדָּשֶׁךָ וְהִדְלִיקוּ נֵרוֹת בְּחַצְרוֹת קָדְשֶׁךָ וְקָבְעוּ שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה אֵלּוּ לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל:

In the days of Mattathias son of Yochanan, the High Priest, the Hasmonean, and his sons, when the wicked Greek kingdom rose against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and turn them from the laws You willed, You in Your great mercy stood by them in their time of trouble. You took up their cause and avenged them. You gave the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the arrogant into the hands of those who study Your Torah. You made Yourself a great and holy name in Your world, and for Your people Israel You brought about a great rescue to this day. Then Your children came to Your Temple, cleared it, purified it and lit lights in Your holy courts, and they set these eight days of Hanukkah for giving thanks and praise to Your great name.

בִּימֵי מָרְדְּכַי וְאֶסְתֵּר בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה כְּשֶׁעָמַד עֲלֵיהֶם הָמָן הָרָשָׁע בִּקֵּשׁ לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרוֹג וּלְאַבֵּד אֶת־כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִים מִנַּעַר וְעַד־זָקֵן טַף וְנָשִׁים בְּיוֹם אֶחָד בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה עָשָׂר לְחֹדֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר הוּא חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר וּשְׁלָלָם לָבוֹז: וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים הֵפַרְתָּ אֶת־עֲצָתוֹ וְקִלְקַלְתָּ אֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ וַהֲשֵׁבוֹתָ לּוֹ גְּמוּלוֹ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וְתָלוּ אוֹתוֹ וְאֶת־בָּנָיו עַל־הָעֵץ:

In the days of Mordechai and Esther, in Shushan the capital, when the wicked Haman rose against them and sought to destroy, kill and wipe out all the Jews, young and old, children and women, on one day, the thirteenth of the twelfth month, Adar, and to take their goods as spoil, You in Your great mercy undid his plan, ruined his scheme and turned his deed back on his own head, and he and his sons were hanged on the gallows.

The close of the second blessing

וְעַל הַכֹּל יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָךְ יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָּל־חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד כַּכָּתוּב וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֶיךָ עַל־הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לָךְ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה עַל־הָאָרֶץ וְעַל־הַמָּזוֹן:

For all this, God, we thank You and bless You. May Your name be blessed by every living being, always and forever, as it is written: “You will eat, be satisfied, and bless God for the good land He has given you.” Blessed are You, God, for the land and for the food.

Third blessing, for Jerusalem

רַחֵם יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירֶךָ וְעַל צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ וְעַל מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד מְשִׁיחֶךָ וְעַל־הַבַּיִת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁנִּקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלָיו אֱלֺהֵינוּ אָבִינוּ רְעֵנוּ זוּנֵנוּ פַּרְנְסֵנוּ וְכַלְכְּלֵנוּ וְהַרְוִיחֵנוּ וְהַרְוַח־לָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ מְהֵרָה מִכָּל־צָרוֹתֵינוּ וְנָא אַל־תַּצְרִיכֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ לֺא לִידֵי מַתְּנַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְלֺא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם כִּי אִם לְיָדְךָ הַמְּלֵאָה הַפְּתוּחָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהָרְחָבָה שֶׁלֺּא נֵבוֹשׁ וְלֺא נִכָּלֵם לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

Have compassion, God, on Israel Your people, on Jerusalem Your city, on Zion where Your glory rests, on the royal house of David Your anointed, and on the great and holy house that bears Your name. Our God, our Father, tend us, feed us, sustain us and provide for us, and soon relieve us of all our troubles. Do not make us depend on the gifts of flesh and blood or on their loans, but only on Your full, open, holy and generous hand, so that we are never shamed or humiliated.

Added on Shabbat

רְצֵה וְהַחֲלִיצֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ וּבְמִצְוַת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי הַשַּׁבָּת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ הַזֶּה כִּי יוֹם זֶה גָדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ הוּא לְפָנֶיךָ לִשְׁבָּת בּוֹ וְלָנוּחַ בּוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה כְּמִצְוַת רְצוֹנֶךָ וּבִרְצוֹנְךָ הָנִיחַ לָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ שֶׁלֺּא תְהֵא צָרָה וְיָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה בְּיוֹם מְנוּחָתֵנוּ וְהַרְאֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ בְּנֶחָמַת צִיּוֹן עִירֶךָ וּבְבִנְיַן יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר קָדְשֶׁךָ כִּי אַתָּה הוּא בַּעַל הַיְשׁוּעוֹת וּבַעַל הַנֶּחָמוֹת:

On Shabbat: be pleased, God, and give us strength through Your commandments and through the commandment of the seventh day, this great and holy Shabbat. It is great and holy before You, to rest on it and to be at ease on it with love, as You wish. May it please You to give us rest, so that there is no trouble, sorrow or sighing on our day of rest. Show us the comfort of Zion Your city and the rebuilding of Jerusalem Your holy city, for You are the master of salvation and of comfort.

Added on Rosh Chodesh and the festivals

אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא וְיַגִּיעַ וְיֵרָאֶה וְיֵרָצֶה וְיִשָּׁמַע וְיִפָּקֵד וְיִזָּכֵר זִכְרוֹנֵנוּ וּפִקְדוֹנֵנוּ וְזִכְרוֹן אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְזִכְרוֹן מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן־דָּוִד עַבְדֶּךָ וְזִכְרוֹן יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר קָדְשֶׁךָ וְזִכְרוֹן כָּל־עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל לְפָנֶיךָ, לִפְלֵיטָה לְטוֹבָה לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם בְּיוֹם

Our God and God of our ancestors, may the memory of us, of our ancestors, of Jerusalem Your city, of the Messiah son of David Your servant and of all Your people Israel rise and come before You, be accepted, heard and remembered, for rescue and good, for grace, kindness and mercy, for a good life and peace, on this day of:

The name of the day, the one that fits

רֹאשׁ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה

Rosh Chodesh.

חַג הַמַּצּוֹת הַזֶּה

The festival of Matzot.

חַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת הַזֶּה.

The festival of Shavuot.

חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת הַזֶּה

The festival of Sukkot.

שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת הַחַג הַזֶּה

Shemini Atzeret.

הַזִּכָּרוֹן הַזֶּה

The Day of Remembrance (Rosh Hashanah).

The paragraph goes on

זָכְרֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בּוֹ לְטוֹבָה, וּפָקְדֵנוּ בוֹ לִבְרָכָה, וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ בוֹ לְחַיִּים, וּבִדְבַר יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים חוּס וְחָנֵּנוּ, וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ, כִּי אֵלֶיךָ עֵינֵינוּ, כִּי אֵל מֶלֶךְ חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אָתָּה:

Remember us on it for good, God our God, take note of us on it for blessing and save us on it for life. With words of salvation and mercy spare us, be gracious to us, have mercy on us and save us, for our eyes look to You, because You are a gracious and merciful God and King.

The close of the third blessing

וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה בּוֹנֵה בְרַחֲמָיו יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, אָמֵן:

Rebuild Jerusalem, the holy city, soon and in our days. Blessed are You, God, who in His mercy rebuilds Jerusalem.

Fourth blessing, for God's goodness

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הָאֵל אָבִינוּ, מַלְכֵּנוּ, אַדִּירֵנוּ בּוֹרְאֵנוּ, גּוֹאֲלֵנוּ, יוֹצְרֵנוּ, קְדוֹשֵׁנוּ קְדוֹשׁ יַעֲקֹב, רוֹעֵנוּ רוֹעֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַמֶּלֶךְ הַטּוֹב, וְהַמֵּטִיב לַכֹּל, שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם הוּא הֵטִיב, הוּא מֵטִיב, 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:

Blessed are You, God, our God, King of the universe: the God who is our Father, our King, our Mighty One, our Maker, our Redeemer, our Creator, our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob, our Shepherd, the Shepherd of Israel, the good King who does good to all. Every day He has done good, does good and will do good for us. He has given, gives and will always give us grace, kindness, mercy, relief, rescue, success, blessing, salvation, comfort, a livelihood, support, mercy, life, peace and everything good; may we never lack any good thing.

Short requests that begin with the Merciful One

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִמְלוֹךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

May the Merciful One reign over us forever.

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ:

May the Merciful One be blessed in heaven and on earth.

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁתַּבַּח לְדוֹר דּוֹרִים, וְיִתְפָּאַר בָּנוּ לָעַד וּלְנֵצַח נְצָחִים, וְיִתְהַדַּר בָּנוּ לָעַד וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים:

May the Merciful One be praised through all generations, be glorified in us forever and ever, and be honored in us always.

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְפַרְנְסֵנוּ בְּכָבוֹד:

May the Merciful One provide for us with dignity.

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁבּוֹר עֻלֵּנוּ מֵעַל צַוָּארֵנוּ וְהוּא יוֹלִיכֵנוּ קוֹמְמִיּוּת לְאַרְצֵנוּ:

May the Merciful One break the yoke from our neck and lead us upright to our land.

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח לָנוּ בְּרָכָה מְרֻבָּה בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה וְעַל־שֻׁלְחָן זֶה שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ עָלָיו:

May the Merciful One send plentiful blessing to this house and to this table at which we have eaten.

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח לָנוּ אֶת־אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא זָכוּר לַטּוֹב, וִיבַשֶּׂר־לָנוּ בְּשׂוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת יְשׁוּעוֹת וְנֶחָמוֹת:

May the Merciful One send us Elijah the prophet, remembered for good, to bring us good news of rescue and comfort.

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־(אָבִי מוֹרִי) בַּעַל הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה, וְאֶת־(אִמִּי מוֹרָתִי) בַּעֲלַת הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה, אוֹתָם וְאֶת־בֵּיתָם וְאֶת־זַרְעָם וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם

May the Merciful One bless the master and the mistress of this house, with their household, their children and everything that is theirs. Words in brackets are alternatives for the person speaking.

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אוֹתִי (וְאֶת־אִשְׁתִּי/בַּעֲלִי וְאֶת־זַרְעִי) וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לִי.

May the Merciful One bless me, my family and everything I have. Words in brackets are alternatives for the person speaking.

אוֹתָנוּ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לָנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּרְכוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב: בַּכֹּל, מִכֹּל, כֹּל, כֵּן יְבָרֵךְ אוֹתָנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ יַחַד, בִּבְרָכָה שְׁלֵמָה, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:

May the Merciful One bless us and everything that is ours, as our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were blessed in everything, from everything, with everything. May He bless us all together with one complete blessing, and let us say: Amen.

בַּמָּרוֹם יְלַמְּדוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ זְכוּת שֶׁתְּהֵא לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת שָׁלוֹם, וְנִשָּׂא בְרָכָה מֵאֵת יְהֹוָה וּצְדָקָה מֵאֱלֺהֵי יִשְׁעֵנוּ, וְנִמְצָא חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱלֺהִים וְאָדָם:

On high, may a merit be argued for them and for us, to be a safeguard of peace. May we receive a blessing from God and justice from the God of our salvation, and find grace and good sense in the eyes of God and of people.

On Shabbat

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַנְחִילֵנוּ יוֹם שֶׁכֻּלּוֹ שַׁבָּת וּמְנוּחָה לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָמִים:

May the Merciful One let us inherit the day that is entirely Shabbat and rest, for everlasting life.

On Rosh Chodesh

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ אֶת הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לְטוֹבָה וְלִבְרָכָה:

May the Merciful One renew this month for us, for good and for blessing.

On a festival

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַנְחִילֵנוּ יוֹם שֶׁכֻּלּוֹ טוֹב:

May the Merciful One let us inherit the day that is entirely good.

On Rosh Hashanah

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ אֶת הַשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת לְטוֹבָה וְלִבְרָכָה:

May the Merciful One renew this year for us, for good and for blessing.

On Sukkot

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יָקִים לָנוּ אֶת־סֻכַּת דָּוִד הַנּוֹפָלֶת:

May the Merciful One raise up for us the fallen booth of David.

The requests go on

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְזַכֵּנוּ לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ וּלְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, מַגְדִּיל יְשׁוּעוֹת מַלְכּוֹ (מִגְדּוֹל יְשׁוּעוֹת מַלְכּוֹ), וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד לִמְשִׁיחוֹ לְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעוֹ עַד עוֹלָם: עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:

May the Merciful One let us live to see the days of the Messiah and the life of the world to come. He gives great rescue to His king and shows kindness to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever. May He who makes peace in the heights make peace for us and for all Israel, and let us say: Amen.

The closing verses

יְראוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה קְדוֹשָׁיו, כִּי אֵין מַחְסוֹר לִירֵאָיו: כְּפִירִים רָשׁוּ וְרָעֵבוּ, וְדוֹרְשֵׁי יְהֹוָה לֺא־יַחְסְרוּ כָל־טוֹב: הוֹדוּ לַיהוָֹה כִּי־טוֹב, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת־יָדֶךָ, וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל־חַי רָצוֹן: בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּיהוָֹה, וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה מִבְטַחוֹ: נַעַר הָיִיתִי גַם־זָקַנְתִּי וְלֺא־רָאִיתִי צַדִּיק נֶעֱזָב, וְזַרְעוֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָחֶם: יְהֹוָה עוֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן, יְהֹוָה יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־עַמּוֹ בַּשָּׁלוֹם:

Closing verses of the Bible: those who fear God lack nothing; give thanks to God, who is good; He opens His hand and satisfies every living thing; blessed is the one who trusts in God; God gives strength to His people and blesses His people with peace.

Sources read on 2 November 2026

When and how this prayer is said

  • Customarily said after a meal that included bread. When three or more people ate together, it opens with a call to bless.
  • This page has 3 wordings: Ashkenaz, Sefard and Edot HaMizrach
  • 1043 words, about 12 minutes to read

More prayers and texts

Prayers by the time they are said·All 150 psalms and today's reading

Questions about this prayer

When is Birkat HaMazon said?

Customarily after eating a meal that included bread. When three or more people ate together, it opens with a call to bless.

What are the four blessings of Birkat HaMazon?

The first thanks God for feeding the whole world. The second thanks God for the land, the covenant and the Torah. The third asks for mercy on Israel and on Jerusalem, and ends with the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The fourth thanks God for being good and doing good.

What is added on Shabbat and on the festivals?

On Shabbat a paragraph that begins with Retzeh, “be pleased”, is added to the third blessing. On Rosh Chodesh and the festivals a paragraph beginning Ya’aleh VeYavo is added to it, and on Hanukkah and Purim the second blessing takes a paragraph called Al HaNissim. All three are on this page, marked at their place, with short requests for the day near the end.

Is the wording the same in every tradition?

No. This page shows the Ashkenaz, the Sefard and the Edot HaMizrach wordings, each compared word by word with a second edition. Left out are only the lines a guest adds for the host, those for a wedding or a circumcision, and the short blessings said when the paragraph for Shabbat or a festival was forgotten.

How long does Birkat HaMazon take?

About 12 minutes at a steady pace, 1043 words.