Blessings before Meals

From Jordan Lee Wagner

When bread is included in a repast, it takes on the status of a "meal" -- use the blessings below. Without bread, use the blessings before and after snacks.

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Ritually wash your hands, as follows: Fill a spoutless vessel with water. Then pour the water over the round smooth rim, onto your hands. The most common practice is to pour first over the right hand three times, then the left three times, using up all the water. Dry your hands and recite:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam,
a-sher kid-sha-nu b'mitz-vo-tav
v'tzi-va-nu
al n'ti-lat ya-da-yim.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe,
who sanctifies us through His commandments
and commanded us
concerning the elevation of the hands.

Without interruption after handwashing, begin the meal by reciting the blessing over the bread:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam,
ha-mo-tzi le-chem min ha-a-retz.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe,
who brings forth bread from the earth.

Immediately eat some of the bread to start the meal. This blessing covers everything that is consumed as part of the meal except for wine (or grape juice).