Monumental Blessing Plaque [Germany; ca. 1750]

The recitation of a blessing of thanksgiving after partaking of food is inferred from the biblical verse: "Thou shalt eat and be satisfied and bless the Lord thy God for the good land which He has given thee" (Deuteronomy 8:10).  The complete Grace after Meals (Birkat Ha-Mazon) is recited only when the meal includes bread. Another, shorter form of Grace is recited after eating or drinking anything else. When the foods being eaten include certain biblically mandated fruits (grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, and dates) or grains (wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt), or after drinking wine, one recites the formula referred to informally as Al ha-Mihyah, derived from the initial words of the blessing. This shorter version of Grace begins with a standard formula and then varies according to the specific food eaten. Special additions are then added on the occasion of the Sabbath, festivals, or Rosh Hodesh (New Moon.)

In addition to the text of Al ha-Mihyah, this colorful plaque contains instructions in Yiddish, as well as the texts of Psalms 126 and 137, customarily recited at the conclusion of a meal. This blessing sheet is further embellished with an illustration of a family seated around a festive table. The text surrounding this image is taken from the Mishna: "Three who eat at one table and speak words of Torah, it is as if they have eaten at God's table" (Pirkei Avot 3:3).

A similar blessing sheet was created in 1755 by Samuel Dreznitz, a talented scribe-artist active in Nikolsburg in the mid-eighteenth century. It is currently in the collection of the Israel Museum (177 / 65).