One of the reasons as to why the Jews are such blessed people group is their observance of Benshen- Bircath Hamazon - a Shabbath Dinner Altar Blessings procedure. Its principles are worth emulating to be express gratitude to God and to build strong and healthy family relationships and children having a blessed future.

3. BENSHEN = SOUL WINNING TABLE

4. KEY SCRIPTURES FOR THIS LESSON:
DEUTERONOMY 8:10
WHEN YOU HAVE EATEN AND ARE SATISFIED,
PRAISE THE LORD YOUR GOD.
FOR THE GOOD LAND WHICH HE HAS GIVEN
YOU.

5. THEY DEVOTED THEMSELVES
TO THE APOSTLES’ TEACHING AND
TO THE FELLOWSHIP,
TO THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND
TO PRAYER.

6. IF YOU HAVE BEEN FREED FROM THE
“HOUSE OF BONDAGE”
BY THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST,
YOU WILL ENJOY THE CUSTOM OF
“BENSHEN”.

8. WORD OF GOD WAS SHARED,
FELLOWSHIP & BREAKING BREAD TOOK PLACE
WITH PRAYER
NO WONDER EARLY CHURCH WAS STRONG
& VIBRANT

9. HEAD OF FAMILY IS THE SPIRITUAL HEAD –
THE PRIEST OF THE FAMILY.
THE DINING TABLE – THE ALTAR AT HOME.
DEUTERONOMY 8:10 –
WHEN DO WE PRAY -
BEFORE OR AFTER THE MEALS?
WHAT OR WHOM DO WE BLESS –
THE FOOD OR THE LORD?
WHAT IS THE GOOD LAND IN YOUR LIFE TODAY?

11. PRIMARILY MADE OF WHEAT & ALSO OF CORN /
BARLEY.
SYMBOL OF ‘MANNA’ IN THE WILDERNESS.
SYMBOL OF GOD’S PROVISION FOR THEM.
SYMBOL OF GOD’S CONTINUAL PRESENCE
AMONG HIS PEOPLE.
SYMBOL THAT GOD IS OUR PROVISION.
REMINDS THAT MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD
ALONE
BUT BY EVERY WORD OF GOD.

12. SYMBOL THAT GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL OUR
NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY
IN CHRIST JESUS.
SYMBOL THAT JESUS IS THE MANNA TODAY,
THE BREAD OF LIFE.
SYMBOL OF LIFE OF JESUS & HIS SACRIFICE FOR
MANKIND.
SYMBOL OF BROKEN BODY OF JESUS.
SYMBOL THAT JESUS IS OUR PROVISION.
BREAKING BREAD = (LE-CHEM) OF LOAVES &
NOT FLAT BREAD LIKE “MATZOS”
MEANS = FAMILY MEAL OR EATING A
PORTION OF BREAD AFTER PRAISING GOD.

13. REMINDER OF:
ADAM’S FALL.
RESULTS OF SIN.
REBELLION AGAINST GOD.
OFFERINGS MADE FOR SIN
BEFORE THE ALTAR IN THE TEMPLE.
ETERNAL COVENANT OF GOD WITH THE
ISRAELITES.

14. COVENANT OF SALT WITH
THE PRIESTS OF ISRAEL (NUMBERS 18:19).
SALT WAS ADDED TO ALL SACRIFICES
(LEVITICUS 2:13).
SALT IS CONSIDERED MOST HOLY, MOST FIRM.
IN MAKING A COVENANT, CONSECRATED SALT
WAS EATEN (LEVITICUS 2:13)
WITHOUT SALT, OFFERINGS WERE
NOT ACCEPTABLE.
JEWS DID NOT SEE THEIR PRIESTS ADD SALT
TO THEIR SACRIFICE, BUT KNEW IT.

15. YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. BUT IF THE
SALT LOSES ITS SALTINESS, HOW CAN IT BE
MADE SALTY AGAIN? IT IS NO LONGER GOOD
FOR ANYTHING, EXCEPT TO BE THROWN OUT
AND TRAMPLED BY MEN.
USELESS SALT IS THROWN DOWN THE MOUNT.
PEOPLE ASCENDING THE HILL TRAMPLE ON IT.

16. SALT, HENCE, IS THE SYMBOL OF SACRIFICE OF
CHRIST FOR SIN. (MARK 9:49-50).
“FOR EVERYONE IS SHALL BE SALTED WITH FIRE,
AND EVERY SACRIFICE SHALL BE SALTED
WITH FIRE. SALT IS GOOD: BUT IF THE SALT
HAVE LOST ITS SALTINESS, WHEREWITH WILL
YOU SEASON IT? HAVE SALT IN YOURSELVES,
AND HAVE PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER”.
SALT REMINDS US:
OUR LIFESTYLE OF LOVE & EVANGELISM –
BEST PRACTICED AROUND THE DINING TABLE –
FAMILY ALTAR.

17. SYMBOL OF BLOOD.
SYMBOL OF GREAT JOY.
SYMBOL OF BOUNTIFUL GIFTS OF GOD.
SYMBOL OF JOY OF SERVING THE LORD.
ALWAYS CONSUMED IN JOYOUS OCCASIONS &
FESTIVITIES.
SYMBOL OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS FOR OUR SINS.

18. FAMILY READING OF WORD OF GOD-
EXODUS 16:1-36 – BREAD
1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-36 – BREAD
DEUTERONOMY 8:3 – BREAD
GENESIS 3:17-19 – SALT
MATTHEW 5:13 – SALT
MARK 9:49-50 – SALT
EZRA 6:9-10 – WINE
1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-24 – WINE

19. DO NOT BE IN A HURRY.
TIME OF
SPIRITUAL EDIFICATION.
TIME FOR
TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD.
SINGING SONGS.
EXPLAINING SIGNIFICANCE OF
BREAD, SALT & WINE.
EXPLAINING GOD’S PROVISION &
EXPLAINING HIS GOODNESS TO YOUR FAMILY.

20. AFTER THE MEAL, SUMMARIZE
DEUTERONOMY 8:10
“WHEN YOU HAVE EATEN AND ARE FULL,
BLESS THE LORD FOR THE GOOD LAND THAT HE
HAS GIVEN YOU”.
THEN GO AROUND THE TABLE ONE BY ONE
FIRST
ASKING FOR WHAT &
TELLING FOR WHAT
“YOU” SHOULD BLESS THE LORD.

21. WHEN JEWS BLESS, THEY BEND
IT IS LIKE A PERSON ABOUT TO CLIMB A CAMEL
BENDING DOWN.
“I AM ASKING YOU TO CLIMB UPON ME –
YOU BE MY MASTER”
BLESSING IS NOT MERELY SAYING ‘THANKS’.
IT IS ENTIRE PERSON BEING INVOLVED IN GRATITUDE.
JEWS BLESS :
“ ”
“ ”

22. FOR THE LORD IS THE PROVIDER
OF ALL NECESSITIES OF LIFE.
HE TAKES CARE.
SING PSALM 126.
HAS JESUS TURNED
YOUR CAPTIVITY?
HAS HE DONE GREAT THINGS FOR YOU?
PRAISE & THANK FOR A FEW MINUTES FOR ALL
HIS PROVISION AS JHWH RA-AH.

23. FOR THE LORD THE DELIVERER
FROM BONDAGE,
GIVING OF THE WORD OF GOD &
GIVING YOU
THE LAND,
THE EDUCATION,
THE PROFESSION..
THANK HIM FOR PAYING THE PRICE
TO REDEEM YOU FROM BONDAGE.

24. PRAYER FOR THE JEWS, RESTORATION &
PEACE OF JERUSALEM AS PER PSALM 122:6.
PRAY FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE TO COME
TO TRUST IN YESHUA AS THEIR MESSIAH.
THANK HIM FOR LOVING YOU
THANK HIM FOR HEARING YOUR PRAYER
THANK HIM FOR ACCEPTING YOU AS YOU ARE.
HE IS THE LORD OF LOVE,
ACCEPTANCE &
FORGIVENESS.

25. PRAY FOR SPECIFIC NEEDS OF
FAMILY &
GUESTS
ANOINTMENT WITH OLIVE OIL FOR HEALING,
IF NEEDED.
NOW BLESS
EACH INDIVIDUAL AT THE TABLE.

26. CHILDREN’S BLESSINGS -
PART 1 – FOR A BOY
GENESIS 48:20
“MAY GOD MAKE YOU LIKE
EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH”

27. RUTH 4:11
“MAY THE LORD MAKE YOU LIKE
RACHEL AND LEAH”

28. NUMBERS 6:24-26
“THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU;
THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU
AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU;
THE LORD TURN HIS FACE TOWARD YOU AND
GIVE YOU PEACE.”

29. THE FIRST SENTENCE HAS 3 HEBREW WORDS:
THE WORK OF :
WHO AND HIS CHILDREN
THE FIRST SENTENCE HAS 5 HEBREW WORDS:
THE WORK OF WHOSE WORD
(LIGHTS OUR PATH) UPON US AND
WHO IS TO US.
THE FIRST SENTENCE HAS 7 HEBREW WORDS:
THE WORK OF WHO
HIS CHILDREN WITH PLEASURE
AND GIVES THEM .

30. THIS PART REVEALS THE
DEEP KNOWLEDGE THE FATHER
HAS OF EACH CHILD.
HIS BLESSING SHOULD AFFIRM THE
GROWING INTEREST IN THE CHILD.
HIS BLESSING SHOULD AFFIRM CHILD’S
DESIRED OCCUPATION IN LIFE.
PROVERB 22:6
“TRAIN A CHILD IN THE WAY HE
(SHOULD GO), AND WHEN HE IS OLD
HE WILL NOT TURN FROM IT”

31. NOW SPEAK WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO
EACH CHILD
REINFORCE YOUR LOVE FOR THEM WITH WARM
HUGS.
IT IS PARENT’S DUTY TO IDENTIFY & BUILD UP
EACH CHILD’S TALENTS, GIFTS & GOOD TRAITS.
REMEMBER PROPHECY REG. RETURN OF MESSIAH:
“HE WILL TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO
THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE HEARTS OF THE
CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS.”
PARENT’S LOVE & BENSHEN BLESSING
ACCOMPLISHES THIS.

33. ABRAHAM’S EULOGY OVER HIS WIFE SARAH
WHO DIED
SUNG BY JEWISH HUSBANDS EVERY
FRIDAY NIGHT

34. 10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

35. .
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

36. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

38. 1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever he does prospers.

40. Given that Jews comprise a mere 1/4 of 1%
(13 million) of the world's population (6 billion)
and that 99% of the world is non-Jewish, the list
of accomplishments by Jews is quite impressive.
Of the 660 Nobel prizes from 1901-1990,
160 have been won by Jews.

41. COMPILED BY – NIRMAL NATHAN, TRICHY, INDIA