Blessings — Full Step-by-Step Guide

What it is

The mitzvah

A berachah (blessing) is a short sentence of thanks said before eating or drinking — and a shorter or longer blessing after. Different foods get different blessings, all beginning with the same words.

Why we do it

The sources

Berachot 35aDirect Source

Enjoying anything of this world without a blessing is like taking from something holy.

Devarim 8:10Direct Source

“You shall eat and be satisfied, and bless Hashem your God” — the Torah source for Grace After Meals.

Before you start

What you need

Nothing but the food in your hand and a few seconds

Full instructions

Step by step

Halachic note: These steps describe common practice. Details vary by community and halachic tradition — follow your family’s custom, and for your own situation, ask a rabbi.

Before you eat, hold the food in your right hand.
Figure out which blessing it gets (list below).
Say the blessing, then eat right away, without talking in between.
For bread: first wash your hands with a cup (pour twice on the right, twice on the left), say the hand-washing blessing, dry them, then say Hamotzi.
After eating, say the after-blessing: Grace After Meals after bread; a short blessing (Borei Nefashot) after most other foods.

Blessings & words

What to say

English first, then the words to say out loud — sounded out so anyone can say them.

Bread

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ.

Say itBaruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Cake, cookies, pasta, crackers

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי מְזוֹנוֹת.

Say itBaruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei minei mezonot.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates kinds of nourishment.

Wine and grape juice

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.

Say itBaruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Fruit from trees

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ.

Say itBaruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri ha’etz.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.

Vegetables and fruit from the ground

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה.

Say itBaruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri ha’adamah.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.

Other foods and drinks (water, meat, fish, eggs, candy)

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיָה בִּדְבָרוֹ.

Say itBaruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, shehakol nih’yah bidvaro.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, by whose word all things came to be.

Washing hands before bread

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם.

Say itBaruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al n’tilat yadayim.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who made us holy with His commandments and commanded us concerning washing the hands.

After most foods (Borei Nefashot)

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא נְפָשׁוֹת רַבּוֹת וְחֶסְרוֹנָן, עַל כָּל מַה שֶּׁבָּרָאתָ לְהַחֲיוֹת בָּהֶם נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי. בָּרוּךְ חֵי הָעוֹלָמִים.

Say itBaruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei nefashot rabot v’chesronan, al kol mah shebarata l’hachayot bahem nefesh kol chai. Baruch chei ha’olamim.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates many living beings and what they need, for all that You created to sustain every living thing. Blessed is the Life of the worlds.

This page contains Hebrew prayer text with the Divine Name. If you print it, please treat it respectfully and dispose of it appropriately (in genizah).

Common questions

Questions people ask

What if I’m not sure which blessing?

Say Shehakol — it covers everything after the fact. Then look it up for next time.

Do I need an after-blessing for a bite?

After-blessings are said when you eat a meaningful amount (about the size of an olive) in a short time. For a nibble, no.

Where is Grace After Meals?

In any siddur or a small “bencher.” It takes a few minutes; many families sing it.

Where customs differ

Your family’s way

Some details (like the blessing on rice, or certain snacks) differ between communities. Ask your rabbi, or use a kosher-blessings app.

Go deeper

The inner dimension

Raising the sparksLater Tradition

Chassidic teaching, attributed to the Baal Shem Tov: every food holds a spark of holiness, and a blessing said with intention lifts it up. This is a mystical interpretation, not a statement of the Talmud.

Your one step

Say one blessing before you eat today.

I did mine

These are general guidelines. Customs differ between communities, and for a personal question, ask a rabbi you trust.

← Shabbat All guides Daily Torah →