In this instructional video, Rabbi Gary Pokras demonstrates how to recite the abbreviated version of the Grace After Meals for Shabbat recited by Reform communities. He sings the blessing slowly and clearly while pointing to the words in a prayer book so that viewers can follow along easily. The Hebrew, English and transliterated text below from ReformJudaism.org reflects the egalitarianism of the Reform movement, as is evident in the English translation, which intentionally replaces the masculine gender references to God with gender neutral language. The opening verses of the blessing, only recited in a group setting, are also written to be inclusive to both genders. Rabbi Pokras is a Reform rabbi, musician, and Jewish educator.
Invitation (Zimmun)
Chaverim vachaveirot n’vareich!
Let us praise God!
Y’hi shem Adonai m’vorach mei-atah v’ad olam.
Praised be the name of God, now and forever.
Y’hi shem Adonai m’vorach mei-atah v’ad olam.
Birshut hachevrah, n’vareich Eloheinu she-achalnu mishelo.
Praised be the name of God, now and forever.
Praised be our God, of whose abundance we have eaten.
Baruch Eloheinu she-achalnu mishelo uv’tuvo chayinu.
Praised be our God, of whose abundance we have eaten, and by whose goodness we live.
Baruch Eloheinu she-achalnu mishelo uv’tuvo chayinu.
Baruch hu uvaruch sh’mo.
Praised be our God, of whose abundance we have eaten, and by whose goodness we live. Praised be the Eternal God.
Abbreviated Grace After Meals
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam,
hazan et haolam kulo b’tuvo, b’chein b’chesed uv’rachamim.
Hu notein lechem l’chol basar ki l’olam chasdo.
Uv’tuvo hagadol tamid lo chasar lanu,
v’al yechsar lanu, mazon l’olam va-ed,
baavur sh’mo hagadol.
Ki hu El zan um’farneis lakol umeitiv lakol,
umeichin mazon l’chol b’riyotav asher bara.
Baruch atah Adonai, hazan et hakol.
Sovereign God of the universe, we praise You: Your goodness sustains the world. You are the God of grace, love, and compassion, the Source of bread for all who live; for Your love is everlasting. In Your great goodness we need never lack for food; You provide food enough for all. We praise You, O God, Source of food for all who live.
Kakatuv: v’achalta v’savata, uveirachta et Adonai Elohecha al haaretz hatovah asher natan lach. Baruch atah Adonai, al haaretz v’al hamazon.
As it is written: When you have eaten and are satisfied, give praise to your God who has given you this good earth. We praise You, O God, for the earth and for its sustenance.
Uv’neih Y’rushalayim ir hakodesh bimheirah v’yameinu.
Baruch atah Adonai, boneh v’rachamav Y’rushalayim. Amen.
Let Jerusalem, the holy city, be renewed in our time. We praise You, Adonai, in compassion You rebuild Jerusalem. Amen.
HaRachaman, hu yimloch aleinu l’olam va-ed.
HaRachaman, hu yitbarach bashamayim uvaaretz.
HaRachaman, hu yishlach b’rachah m’rubah babayit hazeh,
v’al shulchan zeh she-achalnu alav.
HaRachaman, hu yishlach lanu et Eliyahu HaNavi,
zachur latov, vivaser lanu b’sorot tovot, y’shuot v’nechamot.
Merciful One, be our God forever. Merciful One, heaven and earth alike are blessed by Your presence. Merciful One, bless this house, this table at which we have eaten. Merciful One, send us tidings of Elijah, glimpses of good to come, redemption and consolation.
HaRachaman, hu yanchileinu yom shekulo Shabbat
um’nuchah l’chayei haolamim.
Merciful One, help us to see the coming of a time when all is Shabbat.
Oseh shalom bimromav, hu yaaseh shalom,
aleinu v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru amen.
Adonai oz l’amo yitein, Adonai y’vareich et amo vashalom.
May the Source of peace grant peace to us, to all Israel, and to all the world. Amen. May the Eternal grant strength to our people. May the Eternal bless our people with peace.