User:AriTaback/Berochos

In Judaism, a berakhah or bracha (ברכה; plural ברכות, berakhot; related to the word "Baruch") is a blessing, usually recited at a specific moment during a ceremony or other activity. The function of a berakhah is to acknowledge G-d as the source of all blessing. Berakhot typically start with the words Barukh attah, Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam, ... ("Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, ...").

There are three major categories of berakhah:

- Blessings recited on pleasurable experiences (ברכת הנהנים) including AriTaback/blessings on food and blessings on fragrances.

- Blessings recited when performing a commandment (ברכת המצוות)

- Blessings recited in praise or gratitude (ברכת שבח והודאה)

One who hears another recite a berakhah answers with amen; but one who is engaged in prayer may at certain points be forbidden from other speech, including responding amen. With few exceptions, one does not respond amen to his or her own berakha, although other prayers&mdash;such as the kaddish&mdash;include "amen" in their text.

The name also appears in the name of the Valley of Beracah ("Valley of Blessings")

Blessings over Food
Judaism teaches that food ultimately belongs to the one great Provider, God, and that to partake of it legitimately one must express gratitude to God by reciting the appropriate blessing beforehand. There are 6 blessings said on different foods: Ha-Motzi, Mezonot, Ha-gefen, Ha-`etz, Ha-’adama, and She-ha-kol.