Answered by
Rabbi Daniel B. Syme
Jewish tradition calls for a b’rachah (blessing) expressing thanks to God before eating any food. It represents a recognition that people owe a measure of gratitude to God for providing food for all living things.
Reciting a blessing before eating also elevates a simple act to a sacred occasion. By doing so, we pause for a moment and think before we eat.
Rabbi Daniel B. Syme
Rabbi Daniel B. Syme (he/him)is rabbi of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, MI, and is a former senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism.
