Ikar and Tafel: Difference between revisions

* VeZot HaBracha (chap 12, pg 109) agrees that if there's a thin crust one should make [[Shehakol]], however, he argues that if there's a thick coating one should separate a piece of the coating and a piece of the meat and make [[Mezonot]] on the coating and [[Shehakol]] on the meat. [See Vezot HaBracha (Birur 19(1), pg 261) where he seems to agree that if there's a thick coating the bracha would be [[Mezonot]] but because of controversy he suggests separating the coating and making two [[brachot]].]</ref> Some poskim however, hold that all types of shnitzel are mezonot.<ref>Halachos of Brachos p. 79 quoting Rav Elyashiv. Laws of [[Brachos]] (Rabbi Forst, chap 218, pg 218) writes that it seems that the opinion who says that breaded cutlets are [[mezonot]] is correct, but one who wants to satisfy all opinions should make [[mezonot]] on a piece of crust and [[Shehakol]] on another food.</ref> Lastly, some poskim consider all shnitzel shehakol.<ref> [https://ph.yhb.org.il/10-11-05/ Peninei Halacha (Rabbi Melamed)] writes that all Shnitzel is shehakol. Also, Piskei Teshuvot 208:6 cites the Shevet Halevi 4:161, 6:24, Lehorot Natan 4:9, Cheshev Haefod 3:72, and Beer Moshe 5:61 who say that all shnitzel is shehakol. Shevet Halevi explains that since it is only a crust it is by definition secondary.</ref> The Sephardic minhag is to make [[Mezonot]] if the batter is thick and [[Shehakol]] if it is thin. <Ref>Yalkut Yosef ([[Brachot]] (vol 3), pg 426) writes that the bracha is [[Shehakol]] whether it is home made chicken cutlets or restaurant cutlets (where the coating is thicker). Yet, [https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=57967 Rav Yitzchak Yosef Motzei Shabbat Vayhakel Pekudei 5778 min 37] explained that one should recite mezonot on shnitzel nowadays. They used to be shehakol since they were made with a bit of crust but today they're made with a lot of breading and they are mezonot. There is no safek brachot lehakel here since either way one would exempt any food besides salt and water with a mezonot. Also, Halacha Brurah 208:12, Or Letzion 2:14:19, and Birkat Hashem v. 3 p. 336 all hold that if the coating is thick the bracha on Shnitzel is mezonot.</ref>

# Many poskim say sushi is mezonot since the rice is in the majority and is primary.<ref> Laws of Brachos (Rabbi Forst, pg 359-384), [https://www.ou.org/torah/halacha/halacha-lmaaseh/food-fore-blessings-bracha-rishona-special-cases/ Article on OU.org]. Rabbi Alexander Mandelbaum in Yeshurun v. 33 p. 583 agrees that generally it is mezonot. </ref> If the fish is primary to you then you make two brachot, mezonot and shehakol, first mezonot on rice and then shehakol on the fish.<Ref>[https://www.ou.org/torah/halacha/halacha-lmaaseh/food-fore-blessings-bracha-rishona-special-cases/ Article on OU.org]</ref> Others hold that if the fish is primary and you don't want the rice then just recite shehakol and exempts the rice.<ref>Rabbi Alexander Mandelbaum in Yeshurun v. 33 p. 584 writes that since the rice and fish are one unit that are eaten in one bite it is considered a mixture that deserves only one bracha (Aruch Hashulchan 212:2). Even though the Mishna Brurah 168:45 disagrees if they weren't cooked together, Rabbi Mandelbaum quoted Rav Elyashiv who said that if the parts were thin and small such as in sushi it is called a mixture even according to the Mishna Brurah. Therefore, in his opinion, the sushi can only require one bracha, either mezonot or shehakol.</ref>