Birkat Hamazon: Difference between revisions

==Preparations for Birkat HaMazon==

# One must not remove the tablecloth or the bread from the table until after those who have eaten have recited Birkat HaMazon. <ref> Yalkut Yosef, Berachot II, 180:1 </ref>

==Interruptions in Birkat HaMazon==

# 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> Shulchan Aruch 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 based on Magen Avraham 184:7 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 its importance. see also Pri Chadash 209 who brings a different reason that you should recite even the 4th beracha. However, the Sephardic acharonim including the Kaf HaChaim (184:15), Sh"t Ohr Letzion 2:13:4, 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 a [[Kezayit]] of bread but wasn’t full, and now is in doubt whether he said Birkat HaMazon he shouldn’t go back and make Birkat HaMazon, but it’s preferable to wash again, make [[Hamotzei]], eat a [[Kezayit]] and make Birkat HaMazon. <Ref> Shulchan Aruch 184:4. Mishna Brurah 184:15 writes that according to many Rishonim only if one ate and is full is one Biblically obligated, therefore if one only had a [[Kezayit]] and is in doubt whether he said Birkat HaMazon one shouldn’t go back and say it out of doubt, rather it’s preferable to wash again, make [[hamotzei]], eat a [[Kezayit]] and make Birkat HaMazon. This is also the opinion of Yalkut Yosef ([[Brachot]] 286, 184:5) and Yabia Omer OC 8:22:13.  

# If a person ate bread and is still thirsty because 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, 184:8) 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. Rama 197:4 cites the opinion of the Mordechai that if one was thirsty and didn't drink one's obligation in Birchat Hamazon is only rabbinic. He is only concerned for his opinion initially.</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, Sh"t Ohr Letzion 2:13:4, [[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 (Brachot 20b) 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).  

==Minimum amount of bread==

# How large is a kzayit of bread? According to Ashkenazim the [[Kezayit]] is slightly less than one ounze of volume. A good approximation is half the center piece of a 1 lb rye bread. <ref> Halachos of [[Brachos]] Addendum 1, pg 246 </ref> According to Sephardim the [[Kezayit]] is 27 grams in weight. <ref> Yalkut Yosef 158:4 </ref> For more specific halachot about [[Kezayit]], see the [[Halachot of Kezayit]].

==Making Birkat HaMazon Over Wine==

# However, if one doesn’t have wine in the house one may use Chamer Medina (a drink which is drunk in the country but isn’t water). <Ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 45:1, Mishna Brurah 182:14 </ref>

# The cup used in [[making Birkat HaMazon over wine]] should be washed out in the inside and outside before it is used, however, if it is already clean it doesn't need to be cleaned.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 183:1</ref>

# The cup of wine should be filled up completely. <Ref>Rama 183:2</ref>

==Clearing the Table==

# One should leave some bread on the table why he says [[birkat hamazon]]. <ref> Contemporary Questions in Halacha and Hashkafa pg. 90, Shulchan Aruch 180:2 based on the Gemara in Sanhedrin 92a which says that if you don't leave bread on the table you will not see a sign of blessing. Mishna Brurah 180:2 writes that this is so we can have bread ready in case poor people come in hungry.  </ref> If no bread remains one should place some other bread on the table. <ref> [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=2588 Rabbi Eli Mansour] </ref>

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