The Bracha Rishona on Melba Toast (Crackers) is Hamotzi, and the Bracha Acharona is Birchas Hamazon.
Melba toast is produced by first baking loaves of bread. After the bread is baked, it is left to sit for two days to dry out. It is then thinly sliced, and subsequently toasted. Rav Belsky, zt”l ruled that since the Melba toast starts out as a regular loaf of bread, it does not lose its Hamotzi status by being baked into a cracker later on, even though the final product was intended to be a cracker from the outset.
Blessed are You Hashem our God King of the universe, Who brings out bread from the earth.
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, Hamotzi Lechem Min Ha'aretz.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. הַזָּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ. בְּטוּבוֹ בְּחֵן בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים. הוּא נוֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָּשָׂר. כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: וּבְטוּבוֹ הַגָּדוֹל תָּמִיד לא חָסַר לָנוּ וְאַל יֶחְסַר לָנוּ מָזוֹן לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל. כִּי הוּא אֵל זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכּל וּמֵטִיב לַכּל וּמֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכָל בְּרִיּוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא: (כָּאָמוּר פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת-יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל-חַי רָצוֹן:) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. הַזָּן אֶת הַכּל:
נוֹדֶה לְּךָ יי אֱלהֵינוּ. עַל שֶׁהִנְחַלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה. וְעַל שֶׁהוֹצֵאתָנוּ יי אֱלהֵינוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם. וּפְדִיתָנוּ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים. וְעַל בְּרִיתְךָ שֶׁחָתַמְתָּ בִּבְשָׂרֵנוּ. וְעַל תּוֹרָתְךָ שֶׁלִּמַּדְתָּנוּ. וְעַל חֻקֶּיךָ שֶׁהוֹדַעְתָּנוּ. וְעַל חַיִּים חֵן וָחֶסֶד שֶׁחוֹנַנְתָּנוּ. וְעַל אֲכִילַת מָזוֹן שָׁאַתָּה זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס אוֹתָנוּ תָּמִיד. בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה:
וְעַל הַכּל יי אֱלהֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָךְ. יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָל חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: כַּכָּתוּב. וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת יי אֱלהֶיךָ עַל הָאָרֶץ הַטּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָךְ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. עַל הָאָרֶץ וְעַל הַמָּזוֹן:
רַחֶם נָא יי אֱלהֵינוּ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּךָ. וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִירֶךָ. וְעַל צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ. וְעַל מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד מְשִׁיחֶךָ. וְעַל הַבַּיִת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁנִּקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלָיו: אֱלהֵינוּ. אָבִינוּ. רְעֵנוּ זוּנֵנוּ פַּרְנְסֵנוּ וְכַלְכְּלֵנוּ וְהַרְוִיחֵנוּ. וְהַרְוַח לָנוּ יי אֱלהֵינוּ מְהֵרָה מִכָּל צָרוֹתֵינוּ. וְנָא אַל תַּצְרִיכֵנוּ יי אֱלהֵינוּ לא לִידֵי מַתְּנַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְלא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם. כִּי אִם לְיָדְךָ הַמְּלֵאָה. הַפְּתוּחָה. הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וְהָרְחָבָה. שֶׁלּא נֵבוֹשׁ וְלא נִכָּלֵם לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
[בראש חודש וחול המועד: אֱלהֵינוּ וֵאלהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ יַעֲלֶה וְיָבוֹא וְיַגִּיעַ וְיֵרָאֶה וְיֵרָצֶה וְיִשָּׁמַע וְיִפָּקֵד וְיִזָּכֵר זִכְרוֹנֵנוּ וּפִקְדוֹנֵנוּ וְזִּכְרוֹן אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְזִּכְרוֹן מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד עַבְדֶךָ וְזִכְרוֹן יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר קָדְשֶׁךָ וְזִכְרוֹן כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל לְפָנֶיךָ לִפְלֵיטָה לְטוֹבָה לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם בְּיוֹם חַג הַמַּצוֹת הַזֶּה / חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת הַזֶּה: / ראשׁ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה זָכְרֵנוּ יי אֱלהֵינוּ בּוֹ לְטוֹבָה וּפָקְדֵנוּ בוֹ לִבְרָכָה וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ בוֹ לְחַיִּים. וּבִדְבַר יְשׁוּעָה וְרַחֲמִים חוּס וְחָנֵּנוּ וְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ כִּי אֵלֶיךָ עֵינֵינוּ כִּי אֵל מֶלֶךְ חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אָתָּה:]
וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקּדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי. בּוֹנֵה בְרַחֲמָיו יְרוּשָׁלָיִם: אָמֵן:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. הָאֵל. אָבִינוּ. מַלְכֵּנוּ. אַדִּירֵנוּ. בּוֹרְאֵנוּ. גּוֹאֲלֵנוּ. יוֹצְרֵנוּ. קְדוֹשֵׁנוּ קְדוֹשׁ יַעֲקב. רוֹעֵנוּ רוֹעֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל. הַמֶּלֶךְ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב לַכּל. שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם הוּא הֵטִיב הוּא מֵטִיב הוּא יֵיטִיב לָנוּ. הוּא גְמָלָנוּ הוּא גוֹמְלֵנוּ הוּא יִגְמְלֵנוּ לָעַד לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים וּלְרֶוַח. הַצָּלָה וְהַצְלָחָה. בְּרָכָה וִישׁוּעָה. נֶחָמָה. פַּרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה. וְרַחֲמִים וְחַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם וְכָל טוֹב. וּמִכָּל טוּב לְעוֹלָם אַל יְחַסְּרֵנוּ:
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִמְלךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁתַּבַּח לְדוֹר דּוֹרִים. וְיִתְפָּאַר בָּנוּ לָעַד וּלְנֵצַח נְצָחִים. וְיִתְהַדַּר בָּנוּ לָעַד וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְפַרְנְסֵנוּ בְּכָבוֹד: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁבּר עֻלֵנוּ מֵעַל צַוָּארֵנוּ וְהוּא יוֹלִיכֵנוּ קוֹמְמִיּוּת לְאַרְצֵנוּ: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח לָנוּ בְּרָכָה מְרֻבָּה בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה וְעַל שֻׁלְחָן זֶה שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ עָלָיו:
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח לָנוּ אֶת אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא זָכוּר לַטּוֹב וִיבַשֶּׂר לָנוּ בְּשׁוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת יְשׁוּעוֹת וְנֶחָמוֹת:
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת (אָבִי מוֹרִי) בַּעַל הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה וְאֶת (אִמִּי מוֹרָתִי) בַּעֲלַת הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה. אוֹתָם וְאֶת בֵּיתָם וְאֶת זַרְעָם וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם. (הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אוֹתִי וְאֶת אִשְׁתִּי וְאֶת זַרְעִי וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לִי), אוֹתָנוּ וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לָנוּ. כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּרְכוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקב, בַּכּל. מִכּל. כּל. כֵּן יְבָרֵךְ אוֹתָנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ יַחַד בִּבְרָכָה שְׁלֵמָה. וְנאמַר אָמֵן:
בַּמָּרוֹם יְלַמְּדוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵינוּ זְכוּת שֶׁתְּהֵא לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת שָׁלוֹם. וְנִשָּׂא בְרָכָה מֵאֵת יי. וּצְדָקָה מֵאֱלהֵי יִשְׁעֵנוּ. וְנִמְצָא חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱלהִים וְאָדָם:
[בראש חודש: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ אֶת הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לְטוֹבָה וְלִבְרָכָה: בסוכות: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יָקִים לָנוּ אֶת סֻכַּת דָּוִד הַנּוֹפֶלֶת:]
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְזַכֵּנוּ לִימוֹת הַמָשִׁיחַ וּלְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא: [מִגְדּוֹל / מַגְדִּיל] יְשׁוּעוֹת מַלְכּוֹ וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד לִמְשִׁיחוֹ לְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעוֹ עַד עוֹלָם: עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
יְראוּ אֶת יי קְדוֹשָׁיו כִּי אֵין מַחְסוֹר לִירֵאָיו: כְּפִירִים רָשׁוּ וְרָעֵבוּ וְדוֹרְשֵׁי יי לא יַחְסְרוּ כָל טוֹב: הוֹדוּ לַיי כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל חַי רָצוֹן: בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּיי וְהָיָה יי מִבְטַחוֹ: נַעַר הָיִיתִי גַם זָקַנְתִּי וְלא רָאִיתִי צַדִּיק נֶעֱזָב וְזַרְעוֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ לָחֶם: יי עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן יי יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם:
Blessing on the Food
Blessed are you, Hashem our God, King of the universe, who feeds the whole world with your goodness, with grace, with loving kindness and tender mercy; you give food to all flesh, for your loving kindness endures forever. Through your great goodness food has never failed us: O may it not fail us for ever and ever for your great name's sake, since you nourishes and sustains all beings and does good unto all, and provides food for all your creatures whom you have created. Blessed are you, Hashem, who give food unto all.
Blessing on the Land
We thank you, Hashem our God, because you did give as an heritage unto our fathers a desirable, good and ample land, and because you did bring us forth, Hashem our God, from the land of Egypt, and did deliver us from the house of bondage; as well as for your covenant which you have sealed in our flesh, your Law which you have taught us, your statutes which you have made known unto us, the life, grace and loving kindness which you have given to us, and for the food wherewith you do constantly feed and sustain us on every day, in every season, at every hour.
On Chanukah and Purim add: We thank you also for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds and saving acts, wrought by you, as well as for the wars which you did wage for our fathers in days of old, at this season.
On Chanukah— In the days of the Hasmonean, Mattathias son of Johanan, the High Priest, and his sons, when the iniquitous power of Greece rose up against your people Israel to make them forgetful of your Law, and to force them to transgress the statutes of your will, then did you in thine abundant mercy rise up for them in the time of their trouble; you did plead their cause, you did judge their suit, you did avenge their wrong; you delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the arrogant into the hands of them that occupied themselves with your Law: for thyself you did make a great and holy name in your world, and for your people Israel you did work a great deliverance and redemption as at this day. And thereupon your children came into the oracle of your house, cleansed your temple, purified your sanctuary, kindled lights in your holy courts, and appointed these eight days of Chanukah in order to give thanks and praises unto your great name. For all these things Hashem, O our King, shall be continually blessed and exalted for ever and ever.
On Purim— In the days of Mordecai and Esther, in Shushan the capital, when the wicked Haman rose up against them, and sought to destroy, to slay and make to perish all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, on one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,—then did you in thine abundant mercy bring his counsel to nought, did frustrate his design, and return his recompense upon his own head; and they hanged him and his sons upon the gallows. For all these things Hashem, O our King, shall be continually blessed and exalted for ever and ever.
For all this, Hashem our God, we thank and bless you, blessed be Hashem by the mouth of all living continually and for ever, even as it is written, And you shall eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless Hashem your God for the good land which he has given you. Blessed are you, Hashem, for the land and for the food.
Blessing on Jerusalem
Have mercy, Hashem our God, upon Israel your people, upon Jerusalem your city, upon Zion the abiding place of your glory, upon the kingdom of the house of David thine anointed, and upon the great and holy house that was called by Hashem. O our God, our Father, feed us, nourish us, sustain, support and relieve us, and speedily Hashem our God, grant us relief from all our troubles. We beseech you, Hashem our God, let us not be in need either of the gifts of flesh and blood or of their loans, but only of your helping hand, which is full, open, holy and ample, so that we may not be ashamed nor confounded for ever and ever.
On Rosh Chodesh and Festivals add: Our God and God of our fathers! May our remembrance rise and come and be accepted before you, with the remembrance of our fathers. of Messiah the son of David your servant, of Jerusalem your holy city, and of all your people the house of Israel, bringing deliverance and well-being, grace, loving kindness and mercy, life and peace on this day of
On Rosh Chodesh say: The New Moon.
On Chol HaMoed Passover: The Festival of Matzot.
On Chol HaMoed Sukkot: The Festival of Sukkot.
Remember us, Hashem our God, thereon for our wellbeing; be mindful of us for blessing, and save us unto life: by your promise of salvation and mercy, spare us and be gracious unto us; have mercy upon us and save us; for our eyes are bent upon you, because you are a gracious and merciful God and King.
And rebuild Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed are you, Hashem, who in your compassion rebuilds Jerusalem. Amen.
Hatov Vehametiv
Blessed are you, Hashem our God, King of the universe, O God, our Father, our King, our Mighty One, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Maker, our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob, our Shepherd, the Shepherd of Israel, O King, who are kind and deals kindly with all, day by day you have dealt kindly, do deal kindly, and will deal kindly with us: you have bestowed, you do bestow, you will ever bestow benefits upon us, yielding us grace, loving kindness, mercy and relief, deliverance and prosperity, blessing and salvation, consolation, sustenance and supports mercy, life, peace and all good: of no manner of good let us be in want.
The All-merciful shall reign over us for ever and ever. The All-merciful shall be blessed in heaven and on earth. The All-merciful shall be praised throughout all generations, glorified amongst us to all eternity, and honored amongst us for everlasting.
May the All-merciful grant us an honorable livelihood. May the All-merciful break the yoke from off our neck, and lead us upright to our land. May the All-merciful send a plentiful blessing upon this house, and upon this table at which we have eaten. May the All-merciful send us Elijah the prophet (let him be remembered for good), who shall give us good tidings, salvation and consolation.
The following has to be varied according to circumstances: May the All-merciful bless my honored father, the master of this house, and my honored mother, the mistress of this house,
them, their household, their seed and all that is theirs, us also and all that is ours, as our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were blessed each with his own comprehensive blessing; even thus may he bless all of us together with a perfect blessing, and let us say Amen.
Both on their and on our behalf may there be such advocacy on high as shall lead to enduring peace; and may we receive a blessing from Hashem, and righteousness from the God of our salvation; and may we find grace and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
May the All-merciful make us worthy of the days of the Messiah, and of the life of the world to come.
On Weekdays: Great salvation given to his king.
And shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore. He who makes peace in his high places, may he make peace for us and for all Israel, and say ye, Amen.
O fear Hashem, ye his holy ones; for there is no want to them that fear him. Young lions do lack and suffer hunger: but they that seek Hashem shall not want any good. O give thanks unto Hashem, for he is good: for his loving kindness endures forever. You open your hand, and satisfy every living thing with favor. Blessed is the man that trusts in Hashem, and whose trust Hashem is. I have been young and now I am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread. Hashem will give strength unto his people; Hashem will bless his people with peace.
לעילוי נשמת
ר' פנחס אליהו בן יעקב יוסף זצ"ל
ר' חיים יצחק בן דוד זצ"ל
In Memory Of
Leon Manaster
Chaim Melcer
