An Abundance of Brachah from the Lechem Hapanim

Borchu Emunai

Pearls of Birchas Hamazon in the Parashah

(ל כה) "תמיד לפני פנים לחם השלחן על ונתת"

Chazal say (Yoma 39a) that the brachah was transmitted through the Lechem Hapanim and the Kohanim would eat it and be satiated with just a bit. The Ramban (Shemos 25:24) adds that the it was not only through the Lechem Hapanim that the brachah was transmitted; from the Shulchan and the Lechem Hapanim, brachah and plenty were bestowed on all of Am Yisrael.

Based on this, Rav Pinchas Steiner, the Rav of Ilok, explained what we ask at the end of Birchas Hamazon: "HaRachaman Hu yishlach lanu brachah merubah babayis hazeh v’al shulchan zeh she’achalnu alav." The words Shulchan of the Lechem Hapanim, of which it says (Yechezkel 41:22): "Zeh hashulchan asher lifnei Hashem," upon which 12 challos, equivalent to זה were laid, and the Kohanim ate them in the Mikdash.

And we ask that the Bais Hamikdash should be built and the avodah should be restored to Yerushalayim, and the brachah should return to the Shulchan ז"ה– the Lechem HaPanim, and from there, the "brachah merubah babayis hazeh" will be drawn to all of the homes in Am Yisrael.

Brisi Shalom, Toldos