Learning Birkat Hamazon

Typically, I like to post a "get in the Shabbat groove" video. This week I'm going to do something a bit different. As I've mentioned before, I've been gradually working on improving my family's Shabbat practice. In addition to a nice supper with candles & blessings, we've added some simple z'mirot and I tell the kids a story from the Torah which may or may not align to the Parsha depending on how kid-interesting I think I can make the Parsha (and, honestly, if I've read the Parsha in time). It's been going great and the family is ready and eager for more. You should have seen my little ones last week, all well scrubbed and proud as punch yodeling along with me as we sang Eli, Eli*.

Tonight I'll be introducing the Birkat Hamazon, the grace after meals. I first learned it back in my synagogue youth group, but have rarely sung it since. So...out to the internet to find a video of someone singing it to remind me of the melody. I'd hoped to find a video of some group singing with a lot spirit. Unfortunately, all of the videos I found either had terrible sound quality or were broken up into a bunch of fragments.

This video, while lacking a bit in ruach, did the trick. The video was put together by Conservative Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg who has a whole series of similar videos. I have a copy of B'Kol Echad, the bencher that Rabbi Ginsburg, is holding in the video and highly recommend it. You can get a copy through the Project Z'mirot folks at USY.

Jewish Songs Series 1 Birkat Hamazon

Wish me luck!

* By the way, I wanted to give yet another plug for the wonderful Oy Baby series of DVD's and CD's. My little ones were first exposed to Eli, Eli on Oy Baby 2. When I introduced it as a Shabbat Z'mirot they were delighted. My 5 year old almost has the Hebrew down cold.