HaMotzi: Blessing Over the Bread
Informative Articles & Videos
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JOFA: The Women’s Role in Kiddush, HaMotzi & Havdallah
The following excerpt from the article “Halachot of Kiddush, HaMotzi and Havdalah, printed by The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA),
Braided Challah: Integrating the Mundane & the Holy
This article explores the meaning behind the braiding of the Shabbat challah, suggesting that it symbolizes the weaving of our
Six Strand Braided Challah: The Unity of Shabbat
This article explores the meaning behind the custom of braiding of the Shabbat challah with six strands, suggesting that it
Shabbat Home Ritual: Challah
In this short post, Sarah Fishman describes the basics of the challah ceremony, as part of an article introducing the
OneTable Shabbat Dinner Guide
Created by OneTable, a grassroots organization whose goal it is to help people enjoy Shabbat dinners together, the guide (39 pages) to
Introduction to the Blessing over the Bread
This short article offers a brief introduction to the blessing over the bread, including an explanation of the purpose of
The Mitzvah of Separating Challah
This introductory article by Rabbi Mendy Hecht explains the commandment of ‘Hafrashat Challah’ (‘separating challah’), complete with the English transliteration and
Friday Night & Beyond: Insights on HaMotzi
This thorough excerpt from “Friday Night and Beyond” by Lori Palatnik includes spiritual explanations for many of the customs surrounding the HaMotzi ritual
Challah Kabbalah: How to Make Mystical Bread for Shabbat
This short video, created by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), transforms the mundane act of making bread into a holy and
Friday Night & Beyond: Insights on HaMotzi
This thorough excerpt from “Friday Night and Beyond” by Lori Palatnik includes spiritual explanations for many of the customs surrounding the HaMotzi ritual
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan: The Connection Between the Exodus and Challah
This excerpt from “Sabbath: Day of Eternity” by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan describes the deep spiritual connection between the Exodus from Egypt
Rav Kook on HaMotzi: For All Times
This excerpt from “Gold from the Land of Israel” by Rabbi Chanan Morrison is a textual analysis of the word “HaMotzi” as
HaMotzi: The Primordial Past & The Messianic Future
This excerpt from “The Way Into Jewish Prayer (Jewish Lights)” by Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman explores how the words of the blessing over
Why We ‘Scratch’ the Challah before Bircat HaMotzi
This article from Chabad.org discusses the halachic (legal) and Kabbalistic (mystical) explanations for ‘scratching’ the Challah before the blessing over the bread on
Rabbi Yechial Eckstein: The Spiritual Significance of Challah
In this clear video, Rabbi Yechial Eckstein describes the spiritual meaning of challah and how it differs from regular bread. Rabbi Eckstein
Why We Cover the Bread During HaMotzi
This article from Chabad.org provides biblical, Talmudic and halachic reasons for the custom of covering the challah before and during the HaMotzi blessing. In
Why We Dip the Bread in Salt During the HaMotzi Ritual
This responsum from Chabad.org discusses the origins of dipping bread into salt before eating it as part of the HaMotzi ritual. Rabbi Yehuda
Reform: Explaining the HaMotzi Ritual
The following excerpt from “Shabbat Customs,” published by ReformJudaism.org, describes the various customs pertaining to the blessing over the bread on
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Women’s Obligation in HaMotzi and Shabbat Meals
This article, written by Halacha Yomit (Daily Laws), describes the women’s obligation to participate in the blessing over the bread and
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Customs
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Let Us Bring Forth Food: Humanistic Ha-Motzi
This blessing for breaking bread, inspired by HaMotzi, meaning “the one who brings forth,” was composed by Machar: The Washington Congregation
Alternative HaMotzi: Humanistic & Theistic Version
In this alternative blessing over the bread, Lesley Reuter encourages readers to gratefully reflect on the source of their food,
Secular/ Humanist HaMotzi Texts
The following excerpts from a Secular/Humanist Shabbat Service emphasize our connection to the land and themes of social justice, in
HaMotzi(ah) with Masculine and Feminine God-Language
This post presents the blessing over the bread both in its traditional format (i.e. with masculine God-language) and using feminine
JOFA: A Tchina for Putting Challah in the Oven
The following prayer is meant to be recited by women prior to putting the challah into the oven. It asks
Modernizing Birkat HaMotzi: A Feminist Spiritual Approach
This excerpt from Marcia Falk’s “The Book of Blessings” discusses both the significance of Birkat HaMotzi (the blessing over the bread) as a
Motzi: A Chain of Work – Prayer Prior to HaMotzi
This poetic prayer, meant to be recited prior to the blessing over the challah, brings one’s intentions toward all of the
Words Of Prayer and Intention: A Sustainability Motzi
This poetic blessing over the bread brings one’s intentions toward all of the people, powers, and systems that allowed for the
Printable Hand Washing & Hamotzi Guide
This simple one-page card from Aish.com provides the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts of the blessings for the ritual washing
The Shabbat Project: Sephardic Hand Washing & HaMotzi Guide
This two-page resource includes a detailed step-by-step guide explaining how to fulfill the ritual washing of the hands and the blessing
How to Separate Challah: Sephardic & Ashkenazi Customs
This excerpt from “The Secret of Challah” by Shira Wiener & Ayelet Yifrach provides clear and concise directions for both Ashkenazim and
OneTable Shabbat Dinner Guide
Created by OneTable, a grassroots organization whose goal it is to help people enjoy Shabbat dinners together, the guide (39 pages) to
Traditional Practices - Learn How
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How To: The Ritual Hand Washing and Blessing Over the Bread on Shabbat
This short instructional video, part of The Jewish Living Series of Perelman Jewish Day School, provides a detailed explanation of the ritual
Printable Hand Washing & Hamotzi Guide
This simple one-page card from Aish.com provides the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts of the blessings for the ritual washing
The Shabbat Project: Sephardic Hand Washing & HaMotzi Guide
This two-page resource includes a detailed step-by-step guide explaining how to fulfill the ritual washing of the hands and the blessing
Learn the HaMotzi Blessing with “Prayer-eoke”
This short, to the point video demonstrates the singing of the blessing over the bread on Shabbat clearly and slowly with Hebrew
Clear Recitation of Blessing Over the Bread with Subtitles
This short, to the point video clearly demonstrates how to recite the blessing over the bread according to most traditions. It not
HaMotzi: Origins, Laws and Customs
This detailed article by Chaviva Gordon-Bennett explains the meaning, origins, customs, and practical how-to’s of the blessing over the bread on Shabbat,
How to Separate Challah: Sephardic & Ashkenazi Customs
This excerpt from “The Secret of Challah” by Shira Wiener & Ayelet Yifrach provides clear and concise directions for both Ashkenazim and
Chabad: Origins, Laws and Customs of the Two Loaves
This thorough article, written by Rabbi Aryeh Citron of Chabad.org, discusses both the meaning behind the two loaves used for the blessing
Aish: How to Make HaMotzi
The following responsum, written by Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld for Aish.com’s Ask The Rabbi, column, describes how to perform the blessing over the
Students Explain the HaMotzi Customs
This short, humorous video, created by students at Makor of Hebrew College, describes several customs pertaining to the HaMotzi ritual performed
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: How To Make Hamotzi
This short video from Former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks demonstrates how to perform the blessing over the bread on Shabbat according to Orthodox
Blessing the Challah: A 3-Step Guide
This short post outlines the basic order of blessing the challah, including the text of the blessing in Hebrew, English
6 Challah Recipes & The Mitzvah of Separating Challah
The following article from Aish.com provides six different challah recipes, including eggless, whole wheat, and the “always successful” recipe, reprinted
OneTable Shabbat Dinner Guide
Created by OneTable, a grassroots organization whose goal it is to help people enjoy Shabbat dinners together, the guide (39 pages) to
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Music
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Reform: The “HaMotzi” Song
In this short video, Cantor Jan Lieberman plays guitar and sings a version of the blessing over the bread often used in Reform
HaMotzi Children’s Song (Hebrew)
This sweet song, by Israeli artist, Ariela Savir, includes the blessing over the bread as well as praise for God
‘I Love Challah Rolls’ Song
This humorous music video, produced by campers and staff from TheZone Jewish Sleepaway Camp, presents a humorous accounting of the mitzvah
What else?
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Ha-Motzi Blessing in ASL
This video demonstrates how to sign the blessing over the bread in American Sign Language, which is especially helpful for those
Race & Social Justice: “Until Justice Rolls Down Like Water”
This ceremony, meant to be performed before the ritual hand-washing prior to eating bread, encourages people to contemplate issues of
A Ritual of Sending Challah to Kids in College
In this personal story, Sheri Linder describes how she bakes challah each week and sends it in the mail with
The Ultimate Gluten-Free Challah Recipe
This gluten-free challah recipe is perfect for anyone with a gluten sensitivity who still wants to participate in the ritual
Motzi: A Chain of Work – Prayer Prior to HaMotzi
This poetic prayer, meant to be recited prior to the blessing over the challah, brings one’s intentions toward all of the
Bread from the Earth: Food Justice Ceremony
This ceremony, meant to be performed before the blessing over the bread, encourages people to contemplate the source of their
Words Of Prayer and Intention: A Sustainability Motzi
This poetic blessing over the bread brings one’s intentions toward all of the people, powers, and systems that allowed for the
And She Laughed: A Kitchen Ritual for Healing from Miscarriage
This article suggests that making challah can be a therapeutic, healing ritual for women suffering from miscarriages and infertility. Rabbi Jodie
Shalom Sesame: Learn About Shabbat with Grover
In this sweet, amusing video, Grover learns about Shabbat on “Shalom Sesame,” the Israeli version of the popular children’s television
How to Separate Challah: Sephardic & Ashkenazi Customs
This excerpt from “The Secret of Challah” by Shira Wiener & Ayelet Yifrach provides clear and concise directions for both Ashkenazim and
6 Challah Recipes & The Mitzvah of Separating Challah
The following article from Aish.com provides six different challah recipes, including eggless, whole wheat, and the “always successful” recipe, reprinted
The Mitzvah of Separating Challah
This introductory article by Rabbi Mendy Hecht explains the commandment of ‘Hafrashat Challah’ (‘separating challah’), complete with the English transliteration and
Challah Kabbalah: How to Make Mystical Bread for Shabbat
This short video, created by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), transforms the mundane act of making bread into a holy and