ברכת המזון -  שיר המעלות

Shir HaMa’a lot

 

-Seth Stern and Josh Himel

  

Psalm 126, commonly known as Shir HaMa’alot, is easily recognizable as one of the many parts of the Birkat Hamazon.   It is customarily said on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and Yom Tov.  It is evident that this short hymn said before Grace After Meals portrays a valuable message to Jews in Israel and the Diaspora.  Speaking of the restoration of Zion, holy festivals, and including a direct correlation to Beit Hamikdash, this prayer is known as a joyful song, representing the happiness of what is to come. 

The song Shir HaMa’alot is in fact one song in a series of fifteen Tehillim, all written by King David, all beginning with the words “Shir HaMa’alot”, or “song of ascents”.  The song is typically identified as a song the Levites sung as they stood on the steps of the Beit Hamikdash.  Some scholars believe that the pilgrims chanted it as they made aliyah to Jerusalem to celebrate the Shalosh Regalim – the three pilgrimage festival -- including Passover.  As well, each one of the fifteen psalms beginning with these special words is symbolic of the fifteen steps between the men’s gallery and women’s gallery in the holy Temple.

            On Pesach, a holiday of freedom and recounting blessings, giving thanks for food is most appropriate, as Rashi explains that Birkat Hamazon is an invitation to join together and say a blessing, thanking HaShem.  Shir HaMa’alot is undoubtedly a song of gratitude as it begins with the Jews returning to Jerusalem as if in a dream, filled with laughter and singing.  The opening line allows all guests at the Passover Seder to express our appreciation for G-d delivering us back into the land that he promised our forefathers so many years ago.  Though no part of this prayer directly gives gratitude to G-d for the food he has given us, it shows appreciation in general for what G-d has given to us, an act which in a way is an introduction to the rest of the Birkat HaMazon.

            The actual text of Shir HaMa’alot is divided into two separate parts.  These two parts are common to the ways all prayers are set up.  The first one speaks of the miracles and wonders G-d has done for us, more specifically associating itself with the restoration of Zion.  The second part pleads for G-d to help us, speaking directly of those who are doing hard work, and those who are going out to do hard work.  Like nearly all prayers, this one begins with a ‘traditional’ recognition of the wonders that G-d has given us.  This leads to the next part where we then make certain requests.  Rather than ask first, and thank later, it makes more sense to give thanks first, followed by requests.

The song has a joyful melody with explicit but pleasurable words, particularly the words “Az yemalei s’chok pinu”, “then our mouths filled with laughter and cheers were on our tongue.”

The song’s lyrics describe the other nations looking in awe and recognizing the great things Hashem has done for us. We are left with the image of B’nei Yisrael, G-d’s chosen people, as a true light unto the nations.

 

http://www.netscape.org/~dmacks/shira/rtf/shir_hamaalot.rtf
http://www.chabadonline.com/scripts/tgij/paper/Article.asp?ArticleID=1144
http://www.headcoverings-by-devorah.com/HebglossSh.html
http://www.masorati.org.uk/11-08-01.htm
http://www.njop.org/html/shabbat_candle_times.html