Birkat Hamazon: Difference between revisions

# If a person ate bread and is full but is in doubt whether he said Birkat HaMazon, one must go back and say Birkat HaMazon. According to Ashkenazim, one should say the entire Birkat HaMazon, whereas according to Sephardim, one should only say the first 3 [[Brachot]]. <Ref> S”A 184:4 rules that if a person is in doubt whether he said Birkat HaMazon he has to go back and say it since Birkat HaMazon is deoraitta we don’t apply the general rule of Safek [[Brachot]] Lehakel. Mishna Brurah 184:13 comments that when one repeats the [[benching]] one must say all four [[Brachot]] even though the fourth one is only derabbanan so that people don’t disregard it’s importance. However, the Sephardic achronim including the Kaf HaChaim (184:15) and Yalkut Yosef ([[Brachot]] pg 282) argue that since the fourth Bracha is derabbanan we apply the rule of Safek [[Brachot]] without concern for a remote possibility of those who will degrade the fourth Bracha. </ref>

# If a person ate bread and is still thirsty becuase he didn't drink enough during the meal and now has a doubt whether he said Birkat HaMazon, some say he should repeat Birkat HaMazon and some say not to repeat it. <ref> yalkut Yosef ([[Brachot]] pg 289) writes that since the opinion of Shulchan Aruch is that even if one is still thirsty the obligation of Birkat HaMazon is Deoritta, in cases of doubt one should go back and say Birkat HaMazon. However, Kaf HaChaim 184:26, Ben Ish Chai. and Or Letzion 13:6 hold that since there's an opinion that Birkat HaMazon is only Derabbanan if one is still thirsty one shouldn't go back and say Birkat HaMazon. </ref>

# A woman who ate bread and is unsure whether she said Birkat HaMazon, she should hear it from someone else or wash again and make another [[HaMotzei]] to remove herself from doubt. However, if that's impossible, Ashkenazim hold that she may say Birkat HaMazon, but according to Sephardim she is not supposed Birkat HaMazon out of doubt. <ref> Ben Ish Chai Chukat 9, Kaf HaChaim 184:25, [[Rabbi Ovadyah Yosef]] in Sh"t Yacheve Daat 6:10, and Halacha Brurah 184:10 (explained in Sh"t Otzerot Yosef 7:7)hold that a woman is possibly obligated Deoritta and so in a case of doubt we revert to the rule of Safek [[Brachot]] and so a woman wouldn't return and make the bracha. However, the Mishna Brurah 186:3 holds that there's enough to rely on for a woman to go back and make Birkat HaMazon if she wants. This is also the opinion of Rabbi Binyamin Zilber quoted in VeZot HaBracha (pg 351). </ref>