Birkat haMazon (Blessing of the Meal) is known in English as the Grace/Blessing after a Meal.
A "Meal" is defined as a meal which began with the breaking of bread. Without bread, the meal is seen as just a "snack", and the formula for this Grace is not said.
The traditional Grace consists of 4 Talmudic blessings followed by a collection of later medieval petitions/requests (and the number and contents differ between the various Ashkenazi, Sefardi and Mizrachi forms of the Birkat haMazon).
The Four Talmudic blessings are
- Blessing God for providing food
- Blessing God for the land and the food which is grown on it (and the land referred to here is understood to be the land of Israel).
- Blessing God for Jerusalem (ancient capital of the land of Israel), home of the Temple
- Blessing God for His Goodness
There are also additions for special occasions (the sabbath, festivals etc. - and for such matters as circumcisions, weddings and funerals).
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