grace after meals

Asked by mike missry · January 3, 2005 · Blessings

Question

Dear Rabbi, I wanted to ask in refrence to the short form bircat hamazon. The question I am asking is as follows: is it allowed for a jew to use the short version for the sole purpose of saving time. The idea, I am asking is that the person does indeed read Hebrew, he only wishes to shorten it for the sole purpose of saving time? or is it ONLY for the people who can't read hebrew well, and if not they would not read the Birkat Hamazon at all? thanks and humbly yours, Michael Missry

Answer

Answered by Chaim Yisrael Abadi

It is made for people, who for any reason whatsoever, cannot have Kavana (concentration). If because they are late, tired, in a snowstorm, can't focus for too long, you get the idea. At least let them concentrate/focus for the minute it takes for the shorter version CYA