I have been reflecting on the Birkat Ha-mazon, which is the Jewish
prayer of blessings said after a meal. According
to the Talmud, the blessings are traced back to Moses, Joshua, David, and
Solomon (b. Ber 48B).[1]
One of the blessings contains a prayer
for God to have mercy upon Israel, Jerusalem, Sion, and the sanctuary.
Blessed are you, O
Lord our God, King of the universe. You feed the whole world with goodness,
kindness, and mercy. Blessed are you, O Lord, for you feed the universe.
O Lord our God, we
give thanks to you because you have given to us a desirable earth [that we
might eat of its fruits and be filled with its goodness]. Blessed are you, O
lord our God, because of the earth and because of food.
O Lord our God, have
mercy on your people Israel and upon your city Jerusalem and upon Sion the
dwelling place of your glory and of your altar and your sanctuary. Blessed are
you, Lord, the builder of Jerusalem.[2]
For this
prayer to have continually and gradually spread throughout the world, even
since the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple in 70 CE, seems to be an
enduring testimony of the human heart’s desire for God’s mercy. From a Christian perspective, even in Paul’s own
day he spoke of those gifts and calling that are unique to the Israelite People
(Rom 9:1-5; 11:29) and that one day God will again show them mercy (vv. 31-32).
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| Artwork on Mamilla Mall, Jerusalem, Israel |
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| Grapevine near Hostel, Jaffa, Israel |
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| Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel |
[1] Jacob Neusner, The Babylonian Talmud: A Translation and Commentary (vol. 1; Peabody, MA: Hendrickson
Publishers, 2011), 321:
Said
R. Nahman, “Moses ordained for Israel the blessing of the Grace after meals
ending, ‘Who feeds all,’ when manna came down for them.
“Joshua
ordained for them the benediction [in the Grace after Meals] for the land, when
they entered the land.
“David
and Solomon ordained for them, ‘Who builds Jerusalem.’
“David
ordained the passage, ‘For Israel, your people, and for Jerusalem, your city,’
and Solomon ordained, ‘For the great and holy house.’
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