Barech

The Barech section invites us to give thanks for the meal we have eaten. The traditional birkat hamazon (blessing after the meal) concludes with the phrase “never have I seen a righteous person forsaken, nor their children begging for bread.” Some communities add a further passage to remind us of the work we must do to make this true: “may we not turn aside from the needs of others, nor ignore their cry for food.” This Limmud Chavruta resource on the theme of Life asks us to consider the danger of standing idly by when blood is shed.