On days when Tachanun is recited, begin here:
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept as we remembered Zion. There, upon the willows we hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us songs, and those who scorned us—rejoicing, [saying,] "Sing to us of the songs of Zion." How can we sing the song of the L-rd on alien soil? If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its dexterity. Let my tongue cleave to my palate if I will not remember you, if I will not bring to mind Jerusalem during my greatest joy! Remember, O L-rd, against the Edomites the day of the destruction of Jerusalem, when they said, "Raze it, raze it to its very foundation!" O Babylon, who are destined to be laid waste, happy is he who will repay you in retribution for what you have inflicted on us. Happy is he who will seize and crush your infants against the rock!
For the choirmaster, a song with instrumental music, a psalm. May G‑d be gracious to us and bless us, may He make His countenance shine upon us forever, that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. The nations will extol You, O G‑d; all the nations will extol You. The nations will rejoice and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples justly and guide the nations on earth forever. The peoples will extol You, O G‑d; all the peoples will extol You, for the earth will have yielded its produce, and G‑d, our G‑d, will bless us. G‑d will bless us; and all, from the furthest corners of the earth, shall fear Him.
I will bless the L-rd at all times; His praise is always in my mouth. Ultimately, all is known; fear G‑d and observe His commandments, for this is the whole purpose of man. My mouth will utter the praise of the L-rd; let all flesh bless His holy Name forever. And we will bless the L-rd from now to eternity. Praise the L-rd.
This is the portion of a wicked man from G‑d, and the heritage assigned to him by G‑d.
Rinse the fingertips and pass them over the lips, then recite the following:
And he said to me: This is the table that is before the L-rd.
Continue with the Zimmun and "Blessed" (Baruch).
On days when Tachanun is not recited, begin here:
A song of ascents. When the L-rd will return the exiles of Zion, we will have been like dreamers. Then our mouth will be filled with laughter, and our tongue with songs of joy; then will they say among the nations, "The L-rd has done great things for these." The L-rd has done great things for us; we were joyful. L-rd, return our exiles as streams to arid soil. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed; he will surely return with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves.
By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song whose basic theme is the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem]. The L-rd loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of G‑d. I will remind Rahav and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there." And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it. The L-rd will count in the register of people, "This one was born there." Selah. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."
I will bless the L-rd at all times; His praise is always in my mouth. Ultimately, all is known; fear G‑d and observe His commandments, for this is the whole purpose of man. My mouth will utter the praise of the L-rd; let all flesh bless His holy Name forever. And we will bless the L-rd from now to eternity. Praise the L-rd.
This is the portion of a wicked man from G‑d, and the heritage assigned to him by G‑d.
Rinse the fingertips and pass them over the lips, then recite the following:
And he said to me: This is the table that is before the L-rd.
Continue with the Zimmun and "Blessed" (Baruch).
When three or more men eat together, one of them leads the rest in the blessing. When ten or more eat together, add "Our G‑d" ('eh-loh-hay-noo') as indicated.
Leader:
Gentlemen, let us say the Blessings.
Others:
May the Name of the L-rd be blessed from now and to all eternity.
Leader:
May the Name of the L-rd be blessed from now and to all eternity. With your permission, esteemed gentlemen, let us bless Him (our G‑d) of whose bounty we have eaten.
Others who have eaten:
Blessed be He (our G‑d) of whose bounty we have eaten and by whose goodness we live.
Those who have not eaten:
Blessed (be our G‑d) and praised be His Name continually forever and ever.
Leader:
Blessed be He (our G‑d) of whose bounty we have eaten and by whose goodness we live.
The leader concludes each blessing aloud, and the others respond Amen.
Leader:
hahv lahn vi-neev-reekh. (or in Yiddish: rah-boh-tai meer veh-lin ben-chin)
Others:
yi-hee shaym ah-doh-noi mi-voh-rakh may-ah-tah vahd oh-lahm.
Leader:
yi-hee shaym ah-doh-noi mi-voh-rakh may-ah-tah vahd oh-lahm. beer-shoot mah-rah-nahn vi-rah-bah-nahn vi-rah-boh-tai ni-vah-raykh (eh-loh-hay-noo) sheh-ah-khahl-noo mee-sheh-loh.
Others who have eaten:
bah-rookh (eh-loh-hay-noo-) sheh-ah-khahl-noo mee-sheh-loh oov-too-voh khah-yee-noo.
Those who have not eaten respond:
bah-rookh (eh-loh-hay-noo-) oom-voh-rakh shi-moh tah-meed li-oh-lahm vah-ehd.
Leader:
bah-rookh (eh-loh-hay-noo-) sheh-ah-khahl-noo mee-sheh-loh oov-too-voh khah-yee-noo.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, Who, in His goodness, provides sustenance for the entire world with grace, with kindness, and with mercy. He gives food to all flesh, for His kindness is everlasting. Through His great goodness to us continuously we do not lack [food], and may we never lack food, for the sake of His great Name. For He, benevolent G‑d, provides nourishment and sustenance for all, does good to all, and prepares food for all His creatures whom He has created, as it is said: You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed are You, L-rd, Who provides food for all.
We offer thanks to You, L-rd our G‑d, for having given as a heritage to our ancestors a precious, good and spacious land; for having brought us out, L-rd our G‑d, from the land of Egypt, and redeemed us from the house of bondage; for Your covenant which You have sealed in our flesh; for Your Torah which You have taught us; for Your statutes which You have made known to us; for the life, favor, and kindness which You have graciously bestowed upon us; and for the food we eat with which You constantly nourish and sustain us every day, at all times, and at every hour.
On Chanukah and Purim, add the following.
And [we thank You] for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the saving acts, and for the wonders which You have wrought for our ancestors in those days, at this time
For Chanukah
In the days of Matityahu, the son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons, when the wicked Hellenic government rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will. But You, in Your abounding mercies, stood by them in the time of their distress. You waged their battles, defended their rights, and avenged the wrong done to them. You delivered the mighty 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 wanton sinners into the hands of those who occupy themselves with Your Torah. You made a great and holy name for Yourself in Your world, and effected a great deliverance and redemption for Your people Israel to this very day. Then Your children entered the shrine of Your House, cleansed Your Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, kindled lights in Your holy courtyards, and instituted these eight days of Chanukah to give thanks and praise to Your great Name.
For Purim
In the days of Mordechai and Esther, in Shushan the capital, when the wicked Haman rose up against them and sought to destroy and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to take their spoil for plunder. But You, in Your abounding mercies foiled his counsel and frustrated his intention, and caused the evil he planned — to recoil on his own head, and they hanged him and his sons upon the gallows.
For all this, L-rd our G‑d, we give thanks to You and bless You. May Your Name be blessed by the mouth of every living being, constantly and forever, as it is written: When you have eaten and are satiated, you shall bless the L-rd your G‑d for the good land which He has given you. Blessed are You, L-rd, for the land and for the sustenance.
Have mercy, L-rd our G‑d, upon Israel Your people, upon Jerusalem Your city, upon Zion the abode of Your glory, upon the kingship of the house of David Your anointed, and upon the great and holy House over which Your Name was proclaimed. Our G‑d, our Father, tend us, nourish us, sustain us, feed us, and provide us with plenty; and speedily, L-rd our G‑d, grant us relief from all our afflictions. L-rd our G‑d, please do not make us dependent upon the gifts of mortal men nor upon their loans, but only upon Your full, open, holy, and generous hand, that we may never be shamed or disgraced.
On Rosh Chodesh, festivals, and Chol Hamoed, add the following.
As the leader recites aloud the words "Remember…for good life" in the following paragraph, the others respond Amen as indicated.
Our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers, may there ascend, come, and reach; be seen, accepted, and heard; recalled and remembered before You the remembrance and recollection of us, the remembrance of our fathers, the remembrance of Mashiach the son of David Your servant, the remembrance of Jerusalem Your holy city, and the remembrance of all Your people the House of Israel, for deliverance, well-being, grace, kindness, mercy, good life, and peace, on this day of
On Rosh Chodesh: Rosh Chodesh.
On Pesach: the festival of Matzot.
On Sukkot: the festival of Sukkot.
Remember us on this [day], L-rd our G‑d, for good (Amen); be mindful of us on this [day] for blessing (Amen); help us on this [day] for good life (Amen). With the promise of deliverance and compassion, spare us and be gracious to us, and have mercy upon us and deliver us, for our eyes are directed to You; for You, G‑d, are a gracious and merciful King.
And rebuild Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed are You, L-rd, Who in His mercy rebuilds Jerusalem. Amen.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, benevolent G‑d, our Father, our King, our Strength, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Maker, our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob, our Shepherd, the Shepherd of Israel, the King who is good and does good to all, each and every day. He has done good for us, He does good for us, and He will do good for us; He has bestowed, He bestows, and He will forever bestow upon us grace, kindness, and mercy; relief, salvation and success; blessing and deliverance; consolation, livelihood and sustenance; compassion, life, peace, and all goodness; and may He never cause us to lack any good. May the Merciful One reign over us forever and ever. May the Merciful One be blessed in heaven and on earth. May the Merciful One be praised for all generations, and pride Himself in us forever and to all eternity, and glorify Himself in us forever and ever. May the Merciful One provide our livelihood with honor.
May the Merciful One break the yoke of exile from our neck, and may He lead us upright to our land. May the Merciful One send abundant blessing into this house and upon this table at which we have eaten. May the Merciful One send us Elijah the prophet—may he be remembered for good—and let him bring us good tidings, deliverance, and consolation. May the Merciful One bless my father, my teacher, the master of this house, and my mother, my teacher, the mistress of this house; them, their household, their children, and all that is theirs; us, and all that is ours. Just as He blessed our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, "in all things," "by all things," with "all things," so may He bless all of us together (the children of the Covenant) with a perfect blessing, and let us say, Amen.
From heaven, may there be invoked upon him and upon us such merit as will bring enduring peace. May we receive blessing from the L-rd and kindness from G‑d our deliverer, and may we find grace and good understanding in the eyes of G‑d and man.
On Rosh Chodesh:
May the Merciful One renew for us this month for good and for blessing.
On Chol Hamoed Sukkot:
May the Merciful One restore for us the fallen sukkah of David.
May the Merciful One grant us the privilege of reaching the days of the Mashiach and the life of the World to Come. He gives great deliverance (On Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed: He is a tower of deliverance) to His king, and bestows kindness upon His anointed, to David and his descendants forever. He Who makes peace in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
Fear the L-rd, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no want. Young lions are in need and go hungry, but those who seek the L-rd shall not lack any good. Give thanks to the L-rd for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed is the man who trusts in the L-rd, and the L-rd will be his security.
At a wedding feast, the Seven Blessings ("Sheva Berachot") are recited here.
If one recited the Blessing After A Meal over a cup of wine:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
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