- Halacha
- Birkat Hamazon - Grace after the Meal
Question on origin of ’Tehilat Hashem’ Minhag
Question
What is the origin of adding the paragraph of ’Tehilat Hashem’ at the end of Shir Hama'alot? I have heard many people say that they don’t recite this paragraph because they claim that this custom was started many years ago by the ’Anti-zionist’ movement in an effort to make the original paragraph of ’Shir Hamaalos’ sound more general and less zionistic. Nobody I have asked has been able to confirm or deny this or tell me the actual source of this Minhag. So what is the source of the Minhag to say Tehilat hashem at the end of ’Shir Hama'alot?
Answer
I don't know when exactly this custom began but one thing is for sure, it was an Ashkenazi custom way before any Zionist movement began, beside the fact these verses have nothing in contrast with Zionism, one can be an enthusiastic Zionist and want to say these verses of praise to Hashem.
Some suggest these four Psukim relate to the four Brachot of Birkat Hamazon.

abbreviated kitzur birchat hamazon
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tammuz 27, 5772

Bread at work
Various Rabbis | 19 Adar I 5763

Harachaman in bentching
Various Rabbis | 14 Elul 5763

Birkat Hamazon
Various Rabbis | Adar I 22, 5768

Rabbi Elchanan Lewis
Former Rabbi of Jewish congregation in Perth, Australia

Old-New Testament
9 Tammuz 5764

Shiva for Gentile Relatives
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Bnei Noah prayer
14 Tammuz 5764

Court During the Three Weeks
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Davening Alone
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Popcorn at the cinema
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Omer Days I can shave/cut hair
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Kashering a dishwasher
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the hand symbol
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Iyyar 21, 5782

a mishna
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 16, 5782

same names
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 23, 5782
