2001/5761
The Pasuk that we say every time we bench is ואכלת ושבעת וברכת, “You will eat and you will be satisfied and you will bless” (8:10). Everyone is aware of the plain meaning of this statement: that after you eat something you are required to give some sort of praise to Hashem. It says in Gemara Berachot 20b “How can I not favor the Jewish people? It says in my Torah ‘You will eat and you will be satisfied and bless Hashem’ but they bless Hashem on food the size of an olive or a fig.” Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l gives a deeper meaning to this statement. He explains that what is meant by this Gemara is that even the richest of people should have the feeling of gratitude to Hashem before he eats anything. The reason for this is because even when the food is on his table and he is ready to eat it there is no guarantee that he will be able to benefit from it, and only after he eats it then he gets benefit from it. That is why we must bless equally if we were to eat a small meal or a feast. We should enjoy everything that Hashem gives us and we should not take anything for granted, and that is why we say ואכלת ושבעת וברכת.