Q&A: Requests After Grace After Meals
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Requests After Grace After Meals
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Are the requests recited after Grace After Meals obligatory to say by virtue of a binding custom that the Jewish people accepted upon themselves?
Answer
A custom has binding force.
Discussion on Answer
I would recommend shortening this too. That doesn’t mean it should not be said now. A custom has binding force. When there is a problem caused by a custom, it is appropriate to abolish it (and that too should be done by the public).
What makes this different from parts of the prayer service that are not part of the main core, which the Rabbi recommends cutting and shortening? After all, the overwhelming majority of the Jewish people also recite those as part of the prayer service.