Blessings Before Food Prayer

The complete text of Netilat Yadayim for a bread meal and the six blessings said before bread, grain foods, wine or grape juice, tree fruit, produce from the ground, and other foods and drinks.

When to say it

Immediately before eating or drinking the appropriate food.

Before you begin

Each blessing below is written in full. Choosing the correct blessing can depend on ingredients, preparation, quantity, and whether the food is part of a bread meal. When uncertain, ask a rabbi rather than guessing.

Before a bread meal · Netilat Yadayim

על נטילת ידיים

Before eating bread that requires Hamotzi, wash both hands in the halachically required manner and recite this blessing. The vessel, water, intervening substances, amount of bread, timing, and speech between washing and eating can affect the procedure.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם:

Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the washing of hands.

Bread · Hamotzi

המוציא

For bread made from wheat, barley, spelt, rye, or oats when it has the halachic status of bread. Hamotzi generally covers foods eaten as part of the bread meal, although wine and some desserts can require their own blessing.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ:

Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

Grain foods · Mezonot

מזונות

For foods made from the five grains that do not have the halachic status of bread, such as many cakes, crackers, pasta, and cereals, and for rice. Eating a meal-sized quantity of certain baked grain foods can change the required blessing.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי מְזוֹנוֹת:

Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates kinds of nourishment.

Wine or grape juice · Hagafen

הגפן

For kosher wine or grape juice. Hagafen can cover other drinks under particular conditions.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן:

Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.

Fruit of a tree · Haetz

העץ

For fruit that grows on a halachic tree, such as apples, oranges, dates, olives, grapes, and nuts. The classification of some fruits requires specific guidance.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ:

Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the tree.

Produce of the ground · Haadamah

האדמה

For vegetables and other produce of the ground, including many legumes and fruits such as bananas, melons, and pineapples.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה:

Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the ground.

Other foods · Shehakol

שהכל

For foods outside the other categories, including meat, fish, eggs, dairy, sweets, water, and most other drinks. Processed and mixed foods can require individual analysis.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיָה בִּדְבָרוֹ:

Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, through Whose word everything came into being.