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The first bracha of the birchat hamzaon says, in part, "Who nourishes the entire world" ... "He provides food for all flesh" ... "we have never lacked and we will never lack food forever". The second bracha has similar thoughts, "and for the provision of food with which You nourish and maintain us every day, at all times and in every hour". What meaning do these words have for those of us who have enough food and for those of us who do not have enough food?

This question is logically related to, but different from the question(s) on Ashrei. The discussions of a (the?) key verse in Ashrei are relevant, but that verse is open to various interpretations, including the words not referring to physical food. The words in the birchat hamazon are not open to that type of interpretation and are even more explicit than the peh verse in Ashrei. So, I do not think this and that question are dups and one does not provide an answer to the other, certainly not a complete answer.

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    Same question, just on a different passage: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/99510/…
    – Alex
    Mar 18, 2020 at 2:06
  • Note "Who nourishes the entire world..." is originally a verse Tehillim 136:25
    – Double AA
    Mar 18, 2020 at 4:41
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    Does this answer your question? Reconciling "פותח את ידך" and knowing people are starving?
    – DonielF
    Mar 18, 2020 at 14:07
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    @DonielF The discussion of a (the?) key verse in Ashrei is relevant, but that verse is open to various interpretations, including the words not referring to physical food. The words in the birchat hamazon are not open to that type of interpretation and are even more explicit than the peh verse in Ashrei. So, I do not think the two questions are dups and one does not provide an answer to the other.
    – Yehuda W
    Mar 18, 2020 at 17:44
  • @YehudaW As per Berachos 4b saying explicitly that פותח את ידך and נותן לחם לכל בשר mean the same thing, the passuk on which the phrase in bentching is based on, I don't think that's a valid assumption.
    – DonielF
    Mar 18, 2020 at 17:55

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Those who have enough food must realize that everything comes from Hashem. JUst as you may have this now, Hashem if he so chooses he can get rid of everything, thus you truthfully rely on Hashem. Those who do nat have enough food truthfully sees Hashem's hand in their everyday life. They rely on Hashem from meal to meal.

my source is the Rashi and mainstream commentators on why a mother who has a c-section does not redeem the first born son.

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  • Where does rashi say this?
    – Double AA
    Sep 10, 2021 at 3:22

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