The bare necessities TB Berachot 49

Back during the days of the Talmud, the text of birkat hamzon, Grace after meals, was fluid. Today’s daf TB Berachot 49 discusses what are the bare necessities one needs to say in order to fulfill his or hers obligation of birkat hamzon. The actual discussion begins at the very bottom of the preceding page TB Berachot 48b.

With regard to the formula of Grace after Meals, the Gemara continues: It was taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer says: Anyone who did not say: A desirable, good, and spacious land in the blessing of the land, and who did not mention the royal house of David in the blessing: Who builds Jerusalem, did not fulfill his obligation. Naḥum the Elder says: One must mention the covenant of circumcision in the blessing of the land. Rabbi Yosei says: One must mention the Torah in the blessing of the land. Pelimu, one of the last tanna’im (tanna’m are rabbis who are in the Mishna, terminus end date 200 C.E. and amora’im are rabbis who are in the Gemara, terminus end date 500 C.E. gg), says: He must make mention of the covenant of circumcision preceding mention of the Torah, as this, the Torah, was given to the Jewish people with three covenants, and that, the covenant of circumcision, was given with thirteen covenants, as the word brit, covenant, appears thirteen times in the portion dealing with the circumcision of Abraham (Genesis 17:1–14).

Rabbi Abba says: One must mention thanks in the blessing of thanksgiving in Grace after Meals at the beginning and the end of the blessing. And one who decreases the number of expressions of thanksgiving may not decrease their number to fewer than one, and if anyone decreases their number to fewer than one, it is reprehensible.

The Gemara added that the conclusions of the blessing of the land and the blessing: Who builds Jerusalem, may also not be changed. Anyone who concludes the blessing of the land: Who bequeaths lands and concludes the blessing: Who builds Jerusalem, with the formula: Who redeems Israel, is an ignoramus, as he thereby corrupts the intention of the blessing. And anyone who does not mention covenant and Torah in the blessing of the land and the royal house of David in the blessing: Who builds Jerusalem, did not fulfill his obligation.

The Gemara notes: This baraita supports the opinion of Rabbi Il’a, as Rabbi Il’a said that Rabbi Ya’akov bar Aḥa said in the name of Rabbeinu, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: Anyone who did not mention covenant and Torah in the blessing of the land and the royal house of David in the blessing: Who builds Jerusalem, did not fulfill his obligation. (Sefaria.org translation)

Different branches of the Conservative Movement have formulated different abridged versions of birkat hamazon keeping in mind the halachot found on today’s daf. I personally like the one found in the Israeli siddur Ani Tefilati published by the Mesorati movement.

The text for the second blessing of birkat hamazon reads: “We thank you Adonai our God, because you have given us a good and spacious land, brit (covenant), Torah, life, and sustenance.” The third blessing is: “Have mercy, Adonai our God, for Israel your people, for Jerusalem your city, for Zion the dwelling place of Your glory, for the great and holy Temple where your name was called upon, and return the kingdom of the house of David to its rightful place in our day…” (My translation)

Since the destruction of our Second Temple in the year 70 CE by the Romans, our classical liturgy describes Jerusalem as destroyed, forlorn, and bereft of its Jewish inhabitants. Almost nothing else could be farther than the truth in 2020. Jerusalem is a big, bustling and growing city. I often joke that the official bird of Jerusalem is the “building crane.” Since God’s seal is truth, I believe that we are forbidden to lie when we pray. Consequently, this new addition to birkat hamazon is the reason I like Ani Tefilati’s abridged version the best. “Complete the building of Jerusalem the City of Holiness soon. Praised are You Adonai, who builds Jerusalem…” (My translation)

To that let us all say, “Amen!”