Shehakol

From Halachipedia

Shehakol is a Bracha Rishona to be made before eating certain foods. In general, Shehakol is made on foods which do not grow from the ground. For the text, [#Text of Shehakol|see below]. The laws of Shehakol follow:

Non-produce

  1. The Bracha on meat, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, and cheese is Shehakol since these don't grow from the ground. [1]

Candies

  1. The Bracha for most candies is Shehakol because of the sugar unless there is a majority ingredient of a fruit or nut. [2]

Drinks

  1. The Bracha on coffee and tea is Shehakol. [3] Read the whole story about the bracha on coffee and tea here.
  2. The Bracha on fruit juices are Shehakol. [4]
  3. The Beracha on soda is Shehakol. [5]
  4. The Bracha on beer is Shehakol. [6]

When should one make a bracha on water?

  1. One only makes a Shehakol before drinking water and Boreh Nefashot after drinking if one drinks to quench one's thirst or assist digestion. [7]
  2. However if one drinks water for any other reason such as
  • to swallow a pill or food [8]
  • for medical purposes [9]
  • to clear one's throat [10]
  • drinking so that one can make a bracha (to remove oneself from doubt of Boreh Nefashot one wants to have a reviat of water)
  1. If one drinks any other beverage which provides taste or nutrition one makes a bracha whether or not one is thirsty. [11]
  2. If one drinks water in order to swallow a pill and to quench one's thirst, one must make a bracha. [12]
  3. If one gets a slight benefit from the water then it's considered like one drank to quench one's thirst. [13]

If one doesn't know the bracha of a food

  1. If one doesn't know the bracha of a food, then one should say Shehakol, and after the fact it fulfills one's obligation of the bracha. [14] However, this only applies is one has learned the halachot of Brachot, however, if one hasn't one should ask a Rabbi what the proper bracha is (either call your local Rabbi or [us].[15]
  2. Additionally, if it is a food which can be exempted in the meal, it's preferable to have it in a meal, rather than just make a bracha of Shehakol. [16]

Text of Shehakol

  1. Hebrew: ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם שהכל נהיה בדברו. (When making the actual Bracha replace ה' אלקינו with אדני אלהינו).
  2. Transliteration: Baruch Atta Hashem Elokenu Melech HaOlam Shehakol NeHeyeh Bidvaro. (When making the actual Bracha replace Hashem Elokenu with Adonay Elohenu).
  3. Translation: Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, through Whose word everything came to be.

References

  1. ↑ Gemara Brachot 40b, S"A 204:1
  2. ↑ S"A 202:15 rules that sugar is Shehakol. Therefore, Halachos of Brachos (Rabbi Bodner, chap 25, pg 455) writes that on candy the bracha is Shehakol unless there is a majority ingredient of a fruit or nut.
  3. ↑ Vezot HaBracha (pg 396-7). See full explanation here.
  4. ↑ S"A 202:8
  5. ↑ Halachos of Brachos (Rabbi Bodner, chap 24, pg 451) writes that soda or other flavored beverages are different than water which only requires a bracha is one is thirsty rather in all cases these flavored beverages are Shehakol.
  6. ↑ S"A 204:1
  7. ↑ S"A 204:7 writes only if one drinks water for one's thirst does one make a bracha. The source is found in Gemara Brachot 44a and Rambam (Brachot 8:1). Buir Halacha 204:7 D"H HaShoteh writes that drinking water in order to assist digestion is equivlant to dirnking for thirst. The Bracha Achrona on water also depnds on whether one is thirsty or not as rules the S"A 204:7 (see Sh"t Shevet HaLevi 9:42 who writes that the Ashel Avraham who writes that one always makes a Bracha Achrona is error.)
  8. ↑ Mishna Brurah 204:40 and Biur Halacha 204:7 D"h HaShoteh
  9. ↑ Sdei Chemed vol 5 pg 260 (quoted by The laws of Brachot by Rabbi Binyamin Forst pg 135)
  10. ↑ S"A 204:7 and Mishna Brurah 204:40
  11. ↑ Mishna Brurah 204:42
  12. ↑ Mishna Brurah 204:42 writes that even if there's a slight thirst one makes a bracha. Accordingly, The laws of Brachot (by Rabbi Binyamin Forst pg 135) writes that drinking water to swallow a pill and to quench one's thirst requires a bracha.
  13. ↑ Mishna Brurah 204:42
  14. ↑ S"A 204:13, Rama 202:18
  15. ↑ Mishna Brurah 202:84 quoting Gemara Brachot 35a
  16. ↑ Mishna Brurah 204:60 quoting the Magen Avraham
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