בס”ד
A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT EKEV 5784
| 10 And thou shalt eat and be satisfied, and bless the L-RD thy G-d for the good land which He hath given thee. | י וְאָכַלְתָּ, וְשָׂבָעְתָּ–וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת-ד’ אֱלֹקיךָ, עַל-הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן-לָךְ. |
From this verse, Jews are Scripturally commanded to recite a blessing after eating a meal that includes bread, and they have a Rabbinical commandment to recite a blessing before partaking of a food or beverage. (For Jews, these blessings apply if the food or beverage is kosher.) Noahides are not commanded to recite blessings before or after eating or drinking, yet it remains an intellectual obligation and a logical consequence for anyone who believes in G-d to thank Him for the goodness He has provided. A Noahide may say a prayer of grace after a meal when they have eaten a satisfying amount of food. This principle is illustrated in Tractate Sotah 10b and Bereshit Rabbah 54, which teach that Abraham ensured his guests thanked G-d, instead of him, for the meals they had eaten in his tent.
Abraham’s Model of Hospitality
Abraham’s hospitality was legendary. He lived for many years in Be’er-Sheva, where he dedicated himself to spreading the knowledge of the One G-d. His tent was open on all four sides to ensure that any traveler approaching from any direction could easily rest there and be nourished.
After the travelers had eaten, they would thank Abraham for his kindness, but he would humbly redirect their gratitude, saying, “Was it my food that you ate? You ate from the food provided by the G-d of the universe. Therefore, thank, praise and bless the One Who spoke and created the universe.” When they asked what they should say, Abraham would reply,
“Blessed is the G-d of the universe, from Whose bounty we have eaten.”
In this way, Abraham ensured that his hospitality provided not just physical sustenance but also knowledge of the One G-d. His home became a place where people learned to acknowledge and thank the Creator for their blessings, as described in the verse of Genesis 21:33[1]
| and [Abraham] called there on the Name of the L-RD, G-d of the universe. | לג וַיִּטַּע אֶשֶׁל, בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע; וַיִּקְרָא-שָׁם–בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה, אֵל עוֹלָם |
which can be also be understood as saying that he caused others to proclaim this.[2]
This tradition of giving thanks is reflected in the teachings of Rabbi Moshe Weiner in the book The Divine Code. He explains that after a person has eaten a satisfying meal, it is fitting to thank G-d for the sustenance He provides. It is customary to recite a prayer of “Grace” after a filling meal, and this prayer can include thanks for other essential blessings such as health, livelihood, and existence.[3] The original short grace, as taught by Abraham to his guests, was: “Blessed is the G-d of the universe, from Whose bounty we have eaten.”[4]
Theological Implications of Blessings
Although Noahides are not commanded to say a blessing before or after eating, it is logical and praiseworthy for believers in the One G-d to thank Him when receiving a benefit from Him. This includes recognizing that everything, even what we think we have earned through our own efforts—such as plowing, sowing, and harvesting—comes from G-d. To acknowledge this, we should verbally express our gratitude for His blessings.
This idea is further expressed by a verse in the Psalms. In Psalm 24:1, we read:
| 1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the L-RD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. | א לְדָוִד, מִזְמוֹר: לַד’, הָאָרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ; תֵּבֵל, וְיֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ. |
This verse highlights that everything, including the earth and its contents, belongs to G-d.
For Noahides, while there is no formal obligation to recite a specific blessing before eating, it is a consistent and logical extension of recognizing that everything belongs to G-d. It is an act of gratitude to bless G-d for the food and other blessings one has received.
Noahides are free to bless and thank G-d for their food using their own words, which can include verses from the Hebrew Bible, as long as it is done respectfully and honors G-d. They may also use the traditional blessings recited by Jews before eating or drinking, which vary depending on the type of food—such as bread, fruit, or vegetables.
For those seeking more structured guidance, Rabbi Moshe Weiner’s booklet, Prayers, Blessings, Principles of Faith, and Divine Service for Noahides,provides detailed explanations (taken from his book The Divine Code) on which traditional blessings apply to different types of food, offering a helpful resource for those who wish to follow these practices.[5]
THE SPIRITUAL IMPACT OF BLESSINGS
Reciting blessings strengthens our connection with G-d and helps us remain aware of His role as the source of all blessings. By acknowledging G-d through blessings, we deepen our relationship with Him and stay anchored in the recognition of His omnipresence and generosity.
This helps us become more aware of all the good He provides and to recognize that He is the source and cause of all the blessings we receive. When people lose sight of G-d as the ultimate source and start to believe that their success or achievements come solely from their own efforts, they can easily go astray. This detachment from recognizing G-d can lead to worshiping false gods or seeing themselves as the source of their own success.[6] As we read in Deuteronomy 11:16, this can be a dangerous path, in which people might turn away from G-d and begin to serve other deities or themselves as a false god:
| 16 Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; | טז הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם, פֶּן יִפְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם; וְסַרְתֶּם, וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶם, לָהֶם |
May everyone remain aware of the abundant blessings G-d bestows upon us and recognize with a grateful heart that He is the source of all goodness in our lives. May we deepen our connection with G-d through the recitation of appropriate blessings and the expression of our gratitude, continually reminding ourselves of His infinite generosity.
By Angelique Sijbolts
With Thanks to Dr. Michael Schulman for the input and feedback
Sources:
[1] Tanach The Stone Edition from Artscroll Series
[2] Sefaria Legends of the Jews 1:5
[3] See Are there traditional blessings for foods & after a meal?
[4] The Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, 4th edition, Part I, topic 6:9.
[5] Prayers, Blessings, Principles of Faith, and Divine Service for Noahides, by Rabbi Moshe Weiner and
Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet– 7th English Edition (pub. Ask Noah International)
[6] Rebbe Nachman’s Torah Numbers- Deuteronomy p. 253
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