In Judaism, we take a sacred pause before eating — a moment to recognize that all nourishment comes from G-d. Each bite becomes an opportunity to express gratitude, mindfulness, and connection.
Jews traditionally recite a short blessing before eating any food, whether it’s a meal or a small snack. There are different blessings for different categories of food — fruits (that grow on trees), vegetables (that grow from the ground), grains, miscellaneous foods (like dairy, meat, or eggs), bread, and wine.
If you’re eating a meal that includes bread, the blessing for bread (Hamotzi) covers everything in that meal — except wine, which always has its own blessing.
If no bread is present, a varied meal can often be covered by the blessing for Shehakol (“everything”), which is said over foods that don’t fall into the other categories.
Each blessing begins the same way — acknowledging G-d as the Source of all — and then specifies the type of food we’re enjoying.
1. Fruit of the Tree – Borei Pri HaEtz
Used for: fruits that grow on trees (apples, oranges, peaches, dates, etc.)
Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ
Transliteration:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam,
borei pri ha’etz.
Translation:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe,
who creates the fruit of the tree.
2. Fruit of the Ground – Borei Pri HaAdamah
Used for: vegetables and foods that grow from the ground (carrots, potatoes, lettuce, beans, etc.)
Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה
Transliteration:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam,
borei pri ha’adamah.
Translation:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe,
who creates the fruit of the ground.
3. Grain Products – Mezonot
Used for: foods made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt that are not bread (cakes, cookies, pasta, cereal, etc.)
Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי מְזוֹנוֹת
Transliteration:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam,
borei minei mezonot.
Translation:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe,
who creates various kinds of nourishment.
4. Wine or Grape Juice – Borei Pri HaGafen
Used for: wine or grape juice.
(This blessing is also said during Kiddush on Shabbat and festivals.)
Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
Transliteration:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam,
borei pri ha’gafen.
Translation:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe,
who creates the fruit of the vine.
5. Everything Else – Shehakol
Used for: all other foods (meat, fish, eggs, dairy, candy, drinks, etc.)
Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
שֶׁהַכּוֹל נִהְיָה בִּדְבָרוֹ
Transliteration:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam,
shehakol nih’ye bidvaro.
Translation:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe,
by whose word everything came to be.
Reflection
Every blessing transforms a simple act — eating — into a moment of awareness.
We stop, breathe, and remember that every taste, every harvest, every joy is a gift.
These words connect us not only to G-d but also to generations before us who whispered the same blessings, holding the same gratitude in their hearts.
So whether it’s a sweet apple, a cup of coffee, or a hearty bowl of soup — take that extra moment. Bless it. Feel it. Receive it.
The Chai Life 
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