Deuternomy 8:10

וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ׃

You shall eat, you and shall be satiated, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land given to you.

If there’s anything particularly characteristic of Judaism, it’s blessings. Upon waking up, we have a series of blessings thanking God for the new day. Three times a day we stand and recite nineteen blessings as part of our Amidah, our standing prayer. We say a blessing before studying Torah, upon seeing a head of state, a rainbow, even after using the restroom. The Talmud teaches that we are meant to recite one hundred blessings a day! 

Blessings are powerful tools to keep one connected to God and in a state of gratitude. So it may be surprising to learn that all are of rabbinic origin – except one. Out of every blessing we say daily, only one comes from the Torah itself, and that’s the blessing after food. When is it most difficult to remember God – to remember the higher moral, spiritual, personal goals toward which we strive? It’s when our bellies are full, when we are satisfied and comfortable. 

There are no atheists in foxholes, as the saying goes. It’s easy to turn to God when we feel vulnerable, it’s easy to recommit to one’s moral calling when we feel challenged. Almost by instinct, in moments of real hardship we turn to something greater than ourselves. This is why the Torah specifically commands the blessing after food. When our bellies are full, when we are satisfied and at ease, that’s precisely when we need the reminder to stay connected to our higher purpose. It’s a safeguard against the complacency that comfort can breed, a way to keep our focus on the bigger picture even in times of plenty.