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 By Rabbi Jamie S. Korngold
If we are looking for simple Jewish moments to interject into our days, to make Judaism more relevant and our lives more meaningful, we need look no further than the prayer before we eat, the same prayer we say over the challah. There are distinct prayers mandated for different foods, but if you are just getting started, I suggest saying the mainstream prayer, the Motzi: Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz. Blessed are You, Creator of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the Earth.” (To hear the Motzi, visit www.GodUpgrade.com/motzi.)
Saying a prayer before we eat gives us a momentary pause before we dig in. We notice who we are with and what we are about to eat. We are thankful. We connect with each other and with something larger than ourselves. Although it only takes ten seconds, don’t underestimate the cumulative power of this prayer. Pausing to say this prayer is a spiritual portal that can open you to the power of Jewish ritual. Most spiritual traditions teach that a spiritual practice begins with awareness—with noticing, pausing, and appreciating. The Motzi offers a simple and accessible way to incorporate awareness into your day.
If you are fortunate enough to eat with others who know this prayer, it is a lovely way to accentuate your shared heritage. We stop and we notice with whom we are seated and what food we are about to enjoy. We pause to express our gratitude with a prayer our people have said for generations.
If you are alone, or with people you are not comfortable saying a prayer in front of, say it quietly to yourself. Even said silently, the prayer prompts you to notice and then express your gratitude for the food. The formulaic recitation reminds you of your connection to your heritage, to the planet, and to God.
The above excerpt “The Motzi” by Rabbi Jamie S. Korngold, is from The God Upgrade: Finding Your 21st-Century Spirituality in Judaism’s 5,000-Year-Old Tradition. © 2011 by Rabbi Jamie S. Korngold. Permission granted by Jewish Lights Publishing, P.O. Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091; www.jewishlights.com.
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Rabbi Jamie S. Korngold, the Adventure Rabbi, has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today and many other media outlets for her innovative work in Judaism. Founder and spiritual leader of the Adventure Rabbi Program, she is a popular retreat leader and speaker on the topics of Judaism and Jewish life. She is the author of God in the Wilderness: Rediscovering the Spirituality of the Great Outdoors. Visit her website for more information or click here to contact her.
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