Blessings

An index of common Jewish blessings recited on food, ritual performances and on other occasions.

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In Judaism, blessings are recited on countless occasions, including before and after eating, during prayer, and on seeing various natural phenomenon.

Below is an index of many types of Jewish blessings.

Click to go directly to a category:

Blessings for Food & Drink

Blessings for Shabbat & Holidays

Everyday Blessings & Rituals

Blessings for Food & Drink

Bread
The hamotzi blessing

Wine & Grape Juice
Borei p’ri hagafen

Fruit
Things that grow on trees

Vegetables
Things that grow from the ground

Grains
Wheat, barley, and friends

Miscellaneous Food
Whatever else you eat

 

Blessings for Shabbat & Holidays

Lighting Shabbat Candles
The start of Shabbat

Lighting Holiday Candles
The start of a festival

Lighting Hanukkah Candles
Around the menorah

Wine & Grape Juice
The kiddush blessing

Washing Hands
Before eating bread

Bread
The hamotzi blessing

Spices
For good-smelling things

Everyday Blessings & Rituals

Tallit
Putting on a prayer shawl

Hearing Good News
Celebratory words

Hearing Tragic News
Coming to terms

Seeing a Rainbow
An expression of wonder

Washing Hands
A clean start

Torah Study
Before beginning

A Head of State
When seeing one

 

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