Birkat Hamazon: Difference between revisions

# One shouldn’t interrupt Birkat HaMazon at all to answer or greet someone.<ref>S”A 183:8 writes that some say that in regards to greeting or answering someone Birkat HaMazon is judged like [[Shemona Esreh]] when one doesn't interrupt to answer anyone. Halacha Brurah 183:28 writes that this opinion quoted in Shulchan Aruch is accepted as Halacha. The Mishna Brurahh 183:1 explains that Birkat HaMazon is similar to [[Shemona Esreh]] in that it may only be said in one place and not while one is moving. </ref>

# According to Ashkenazim, one should finish before the mezamen (the one who lead the [[Zimmun]]) finishes each Bracha so that one can answer [[Amen]] to his Bracha, however, the Sephardic minhag is not to answer [[Amen]] during Birkat HaMazon.<ref>Halacha Brurah 183:27</ref>

 

#It’s preferable to make a Birkat HaMazon over a cup of wine when making a [[Zimmun]] of three.<ref>Shulchan Aruch OC 182:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 45:1, Mishna Brurah 182:4. The Zohar Bamidbar 245b clarifies that there's no obligation to make a birkat hamazon over wine unless there is at least a zimmun of three. Yalkut Yosef 182:1 cites the Zohar and adds that one shouldn't do a birkat hamazon over a cup when he is saying birkat hamazon himself but if one still wants to he shouldn't pick up the cup.</ref>

#When reciting Birkat Hamazon over a cup of wine, one should raise up the cup of wine a [[Tefach]].<ref>Shulchan Aruch 183:4 states that when making Birkat Hamazon over a cup of wine one should raise it up a [[Tefach]].</ref>

#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>

#If one drank from the cup of wine the cup is considered tainted and unfit for making on it Birkat HaMazon until one fixes it by filling it up with wine or water.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 182:3 and 182:6</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>

#The cup of wine must have a [[Reviyit]] as a minimum, but it is preferable to have it filled up completely. Some have the practice to fill it up so that it spills over the sides and some don't fill it up so much that it spills over.<ref>Rama 183:2, Mishna Brurah 183:9</ref>

#The practice is that on days [[Musaf]] is not recited in davening, the pasuk recited at the end of Birkat Hamazon is recited as magdil (מגדיל) yeshuot malko, while on days that [[Musaf]] is recited, it is changed to Migdol (מגדול) yeshuot malko.<ref>Ben Ish Chai Year 1, Parashat Chukat: Halacha 19 writes that this is based on mystical reasons </ref>

#At the end of [[Birkat HaMazon]] for [[Melava Malka]], some authorities hold that one should say say "migdol yishuot malko" like on [[shabbat]] itself, instead of "magdil yishuot"<ref>Kaf Hachaim 189:11</ref>, while others say that one should say the regular "magdil yishuot" on [[Melava Malka]] just like during the week.<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 300:4) </ref>

===In any language===

#It’s preferable to say Birkat HaMazon in Hebrew, but strictly speaking it is permissible to say it in any language one understands.<ref>S”A 185:1, Mishna Brurah 185:1 </ref>