Birkat HaMazon — How to Be Saved from Gehenna

Birkat HaMazon — How to Be Saved from Gehenna

Rabbi Yaakov-Chaim Sofer, author of the great “Kaf HaChaim”, saw in the book “Divrei Menachem”, quoting Rabbi Moshe Zacuto, that when Ramaz was sleeping, a voice said to him in a dream: “Whoever recites ‘Hoshienu Adonai Eloheinu’ before Birkat HaMazon every time will never see Gehenna.” This short prayer appears in our siddurim immediately after “Shir Shel Yom” — the daily psalms recited after Shacharit. Prayer “HOSHIENU ADONAI ELOHEINU VEKABTZENU MIN HAGOYIM, LEHODOT LESHEM KODSHECHA LEHISHTABEIACH BITHEILATECHA. BARUCH ADONAI ELOHEI YISRAEL MIN HAOLAM VEAD HAOLAM, VEAMAR KOL HAAM AMEN, HALELUYAH. BARUCH ADONAI MITZIYON SHOCHEN YERUSHALAYIM, HALELUYAH. BARUCH ADONAI ELOHIM ELOHEI YISRAEL, OSEH NIFLAOT LEVADO. UVARUCH SHEM KEVODO LEOLAM, VAYIMALE CHEVODO ET KOL HAARETZ, AMEN VE-AMEN”! Translation (Save us, L-rd, our G-d, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy Name and glory in the privilege of praising You. Blessed is the L-rd, the G-d of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said: “Amen, praise G-d”! Blessed is the L-rd from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise G-d! Blessed is the L-rd, the G-d of Israel; He alone performs wonders. Blessed be His glorious Name forever, and may His glory fill the entire earth. Amen and amen!)     (Based on a lesson by Rav Yisrael Yakobov on “Perek Shirah,” the Song of Gehenna)