ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ה' אלקיך על הארץ הטובה אשר נתן לך וגו' (ח-י)
MASHAL: R’ Elazar Menachem Mann Shach ZT”L once advised someone to take upon himself a small mitzvah as a tikkun (a spiritual act of rectification). “When you say Birkas Hamazon, recite it from a siddur,” said R’ Shach.
The man was surprised. “For what purpose?” he asked.
R’ Shach told him the following story. The Brisker Rav ZT”L once needed to go to Switzerland for his health, where the pure mountain air would help him. The doctor instructed him to walk on a certain path each morning, where he would breathe the air to improve his condition.
After a while, the doctor checked the Rav and found that there was no improvement in his condition. He soon learned that the Rav had wanted to get back to his learning each morning, so he rushed the walk so as not to waste any time. However, this left him with not enough time for the clear mountain air to have a positive effect on his health.
The doctor was smart. He advised the Rav to take a Sefer with him and study it on the way. And so he did. The Brisker Rav took a sefer and walked slowly, absorbing the air along the way. In no time, the Rav’s condition improved.
NIMSHAL: “So too,” R’ Shach concluded, “if you bentch from a siddur, your whole path will be slower and not rushed. The ‘air’ will be clearer and you will absorb its blessing.”
We say in bentching: “Who nourishes and sustains all and benefits all.” When recited properly, Birkas Hamazon is meant to be a segulah for parnassah in particular. Once we understand where everything comes from, may we merit only blessings from Hashem.
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