BARECH

THE ELEMENT OF BARECH

The element of Barech is where we give thanks AFTER the meal of the Passover Seder. If you are curious about this order, read this article: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/865866/jewish/Grace-After-Meals.htm.

It is common in most of our traditions to give thanks for a meal BEFORE we eat. However; that wasn’t the way in the days of Jesus. Barech was a common practice.

The logic behind this makes sense. How can you give thanks for something before you have experienced it? That would be rote; and not sincere. If you have the experience fresh on your mind; you know what to give thanks for.

THE BLESSING

This blessing is often said after the Passover meal is complete:

We praise God, Spirit of the Universe, whose goodness sustains the world. You are the origin of love and compassion, the source of bread for all, food for everyone.

As it says in the Torah; when we have eaten and are satisfied we thank God for the earth and its sustenance. Renew our spiritual center in our time. May the source of peace grant peace to us, to the Jewish people, and to the entire world. Amen.

We have so much to be thankful for.

REMEMBERING TO BE THANKFUL

The last part of most of our Christian services is called The Great Thanksgiving. This part comes right after Holy Communion. Perhaps this is where it all originated; from the Barech ritual of the Passover.

We can never be thankful enough for our deliverance, for our salvation and for the gift of eternal life that Our Lord has bestowed on all believers.

This reminds us of the verse found in Luke 17:15:

“When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back. He praised God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.” Luke 17:15

We are thankful for the healing that Passover brings into our lives.