Questions tagged [bentching]

Questions about the the blessings of thanks recited after eating bread products. Hebrew: Bircat Hamazon. Also known as Grace After Meals.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
2 votes
0 answers
62 views

Saying Ritzei after Shekiyah

HoRav Yisroel Belsky Shlit"a (see Mishna Berurah 299:1) permits one to eat סעודת שלישית until 20 minutes after Shekiyah. Would someone still be able to say רצה if he started eating after Shkekiyah or ...
sye81397's user avatar
  • 783
4 votes
1 answer
166 views

Are there any running commentaries on grace after meals?

I would like to know if there are any authors from the period of the rishonim or earlier who have compiled a running commentary on birkat hamazon.
user9953's user avatar
  • 177
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Saying Birkas Hamazon after leaving your house

If one leaves his house to daven Ma'ariv before he Bentched (Birkas Hamazon) and then comes back home , may he Bentch then
sye81397's user avatar
  • 783
1 vote
1 answer
108 views

Two groups split into 2 cars and eat bread while travelling. What type of zimun do they make after rejoining?

This article delves into some details on what constitutes "eating together" for the requirement of zimun. I see that there is a dispute regarding what happens when some people leave in the middle or ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.5k
0 votes
1 answer
236 views

Correct voweling of Birkat Hamazon

Most of my Hebrew knowledge comes from Biblical Hebrew, and when i read most Ashkenazi siddurim i'm usually on board with how they decide to vowelize things. However, being Sephardic, and wanting an ...
Aaron's user avatar
  • 10.9k
2 votes
1 answer
247 views

Bar mitzvah boy joining a zimun on the night of his bar mitzvah, having started the meal during the day

(This question could probably be made better if someone answers What time does a bar mitzvah come into effect?, but for now i'll just use the earlier or later time, as applicable.) Let's say a boy's ...
Scimonster's user avatar
  • 23.1k
7 votes
0 answers
104 views

Reason for "Oseh Shalom" in 3 places [duplicate]

The phrase starting with the words עושה שלום במרומיו ("He who makes peace in his high places") is said in 3 places and always at the end (or very near it): Birkat Hamazon Kaddish Shmoneh Esreh What ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.5k
3 votes
1 answer
370 views

Why is Birkat Hamazon said after eating just a small piece of bread?

Berachos 21a: Whence is it that Grace after meals is ordained by the Torah? As it is said, "And thou shalt eat and be satisfied and bless the Lord thy God" (Deut. viii. 10). The verse ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.5k
2 votes
1 answer
118 views

Blessing on Grace After Meals

Why is a birkat mitsvah not recited upon performing the mitsvah of the recitation of birkat hamazon? This would perhaps be akin to the blessing upon Bitkat Kohanim as noted by @danno.
mevaqesh's user avatar
  • 35.6k
1 vote
0 answers
34 views

Can a shiur Torah prolong the 72 minute wait to bentch?

After completing a meal a person has 72 minutes (according to some opinions) to bentch. Once this time has passed he lost his opportunity. Say that during a meal the rav gives a shiur or you're in ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.2k
4 votes
2 answers
143 views

Eating after shir hamalos

Is one allowed to continue eating after saying shir hamalos? For example, someone didn't know that desert was being served, so after he says shir hamalos, wants to eat the desert. What steps would he ...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
193 views

Can non-bread combine with bread towards making one satisfied for bentching?

According to the halachic sources one may bentch once a kezayis of bread has been eaten within 3,4 or 9 minutes. Source: Time Limit (min) – How much time does one have to consume the kazayis ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.2k
7 votes
3 answers
532 views

"Praiseworthy is he who will clutch and dash your infants against the rock"?

I do not understand the last lines of psalm 137 ("By the rivers of Babylon"/"Al naharos bovel," the psalm recited before Birkat Ha-Mazon on weekdays. [It includes the famous lines &...
SAH's user avatar
  • 19.8k
1 vote
0 answers
229 views

Birkat haMazon (Grace after Meals) during Sukkot outside the sukkah

Since during Sukkot holiday one can have a meal with bread only in sukkah (i.e., only the sukkah space could be the one that will require you to say birkat hamazon, to be kovea seudah), if one ate in ...
Avraham's Light's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
151 views

Saying ברכת המזון with על הנסים after praying ערבית following Purim

The סעודה I was partaking in on Purim day continued well into the evening of the next day (Shushan Purim here in the US). Teffilah with a minyan was only available immediately after צאת הכוכבים, so a ...
Oren Hizkiya's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

On what days do we say shir hamalos before birkat hamazon?

Concerning saying shir hamalos before birkat hamazon, I have seen three different instructions in various bentchers: On days when we say musaf One days we do not say tachanun When we are celebrating ...
Yehuda W's user avatar
  • 8,153
1 vote
0 answers
38 views

The principle of makom as it pertains to bentching

Gemara brachos records the dispute regarding one who forgets to make birkat hamazon. One shittah says you should return to the location he ate before making the bracha. How specifically does this ...
Isaac Kotlicky's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
210 views

What should i do with food stuck in my mouth after bentching?

It happens to everyone sometimes. You'll be eating a sandwich (for example), bentch, and then find some food stuck in your mouth. What should be done with this food? Is it permissible to swallow it? ...
Scimonster's user avatar
  • 23.1k
1 vote
2 answers
238 views

Historic, variant wording for birkat hamazon for women?

The Mishna Berura (halachot birchat hamazon, siman 187) mentions a variant wording of the birkat hamazon that is said by women. Precisely what is this wording and when was it used and when was it ...
Yehuda W's user avatar
  • 8,153
6 votes
1 answer
652 views

Does Birkas Hamazon eliminate the need for bracha acharona on foods eaten before?

Someone ate something which, in and of itself, requires a bracha achrona (e.g. Al Hamichya or Borei Nefashos) and carelessly moved on to eating bread before reciting said bracha achrona. Should one ...
SAH's user avatar
  • 19.8k
7 votes
1 answer
687 views

Do I need to wash and bentch on oatmeal?

I was reading in Artscroll's The Laws of Brachos that if someone eats an amount of mezonos equal to the amount of bread he would have eaten during a meal then he needs to wash and bentch. For some ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.2k
14 votes
2 answers
297 views

Tapping on the table for "שולחן זה שאכלנו עליו"

I always assumed that tapping the table as you say "ועל שולחן זה שאכלנו עליו" in bentching was something you do in Junior High School. But I have now seen several full-grown (at least chronologically)...
Y     e     z's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
141 views

What is considered 'ready to bentch'?

I've learned that once you decide to bentch, it is forbidden to continue to eat, but permissible to take a drink. What is considered deciding to bentch? What would be the rule in each of the ...
Scimonster's user avatar
  • 23.1k
3 votes
2 answers
78 views

Is bentching with a minyan considered a davar shebikdusha?

Closely related (particular example of): What is the meaning of Davar Shebakedusha? The Aruch Hashulchan notes that the wedding blessings require ten men, but are not a 'davar shebikdusha' (E.H. 62:...
הנער הזה's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
36 views

Rising when saying Elokeinu in a zimmun [duplicate]

I have seen many people, among them talmidei chachamim, rise out of their seat when saying God's name (Elokeinu) during a zimmun of 10 people. Is there a source for this behavior?
Gavriel's user avatar
  • 9,698
2 votes
1 answer
127 views

Skipping "Elokeinu" in zimmun

At seudah shlishis at shul, this week, the person leading the bentching (grace after meals) neglected to say the word "Elokeinu" (our God), in the invitation to bentch ("zimmun"), as is required when ...
MTL's user avatar
  • 19.1k
5 votes
1 answer
102 views

How to bentch in a hotel room/vacation house?

In bentching, there's one הרחמן that changes depending on who is saying it and where. There are essential 4 versions: home, parents' home, guest, and public place. What does a hotel room (or vacation ...
Scimonster's user avatar
  • 23.1k
3 votes
1 answer
344 views

Bentching in a different place than where you started eating

If you ate a meal by the table and finished it on the couch (in the same living room), can you bentch by the couch or must you go back to the table to bentch?
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.2k
4 votes
3 answers
139 views

Why a different list and different order in על הנסים and in הנרות הללו?‎

On Chanuka, we thank God in the amida (sh'mone esre) and grace after meals ועל הנסים ועל הפרקן ועל הגבורות ועל התשועות ועל הנפלאות ועל הנחמות ועל המלחמות שעשית לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה for the ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
3 votes
1 answer
769 views

What to do if you made hamotze on something requiring mezonot?

If you accidentally made a hamotze on a food item only requiring mezonot, do you say al hamichya or birkat hamazon for the beracha acharona?
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.2k
1 vote
3 answers
248 views

If meal continued into the night what do I say in benching

started eating before (shekiya) night, Rosh Chodesh came with the night started on Rosh Chodesh and the next day is not Rosh Chodesh started on Shabos/yomtov and the next day is not Shabos/yomtov (if ...
hazoriz's user avatar
  • 7,526
4 votes
1 answer
126 views

Why do we not mention Aseres Yemei Teshuvah while bentching?

During the Birchas Hamazon after eating bread, we do not make any mention of Aseres Yemei Teshuvah. Yet, in the shemoneh esrei we do. Why do we not make mention of Aseres Yemei Teshuvah in the ...
B Weill's user avatar
  • 183
4 votes
1 answer
522 views

mincha during a meal

If you are in the middle of a meal you have not yet finished, and you realized that you are running late to mincha, would praying mincha before saying birkat hamazot be considered a hefsek? Can you ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.2k
6 votes
1 answer
461 views

Source for saying Shir Hama'alos but not Al Naharos Bavel

I have noticed that most people say Shir Hamaalos before bentching at their Shabbos and Yom Tov seudos. However, I have noticed very few people say Al Naharos Bavel before bentching on a weekday. As ...
Y     e     z's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
118 views

What is the qualification for chamar m'dina ? [duplicate]

The Shulchan Aruch mentions in a few places that if wine is not available then one may use chamar m'dina (a national drink), for bentching, kiddush, and havdala. chamar m'dina is also permitted if one ...
eramm's user avatar
  • 3,847
7 votes
4 answers
7k views

How long do I have after a bread meal to bensch?

How long do I have after a bread meal to bensch (say grace)? Does it matter if I am distracted by other things? For example, I eat at 1 pm, then I work for 5 hours, go to the store for half an hour, ...
avner's user avatar
  • 755
0 votes
1 answer
349 views

Can a woman lead bentching/birchat hamazon?

Can a woman lead birchat hamazon if there are men that partook in the meal? Can they lead it if the men leave?
crazy598's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
65 views

Mixing up the order of Retzei and Ya'aleh V'yavoh?

If someone is bentching on Shabbat-Rosh Chodesh, and accidentally skips Retzei, but says Ya'aleh V'yavoh, can they then say Retzei after Ya'aleh V'yavoh, but before Uvenei? Or must they continue and ...
Scimonster's user avatar
  • 23.1k
1 vote
0 answers
133 views

Mayim Achronim according to the Rama

The Rama in his Darkei Moshe writes that we pasken like Tosfos that today mayim achronim is not necessary. However, The Mechaber 181:10 writes that there is an opinion who holds we don't do mayim ...
sam's user avatar
  • 41.8k
6 votes
1 answer
113 views

Refusing Reshut at Benching

In a zimmun, the leader asks permission from the others (BiReshut...) What is the procedure for refusing this permission? Must I outrank him in some way, or does anyone have the privilege of refusing ...
Clint Eastwood's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
349 views

How do you bench on a Friday rosh chodesh if you eat after kabbolas shabbos before nightfall

Do we say yaaleh v'yovo or r'tsai or both if one eats today which is Friday rosh chodesh after being mekabel shabbos but before nightfall. Does it make a difference if you finish before or after ...
preferred's user avatar
  • 483
1 vote
2 answers
421 views

Which benchers have the harachaman for the state of Israel?

Which benchers include the line: "harachaman hu yivareich et medinat yisrael, reishit tzmichat geulateinu"? Which include a harachaman for chayalei Tzahal or for peace between bnei Sarah and bnei ...
Saul Tobin's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
247 views

ORDER OF krias shma, benshing and the omer

In summer when one davens early on Friday night and one finishes the meal at night, what is the correct order of saying these three things. Krias shma, Benshing and Omer.
preferred's user avatar
  • 483
4 votes
2 answers
427 views

How much of benching should be said aloud in a zimmun?

When a zimmun (rabbotai nevarech, etc.) is done, I have heard that the first three paragraphs should be said aloud by the leader. (That'd be: Baruch Ata Adoshem Hazan Et Haolam......Baruch Ata ...
barlop's user avatar
  • 2,117
3 votes
1 answer
182 views

Omitting the second half of bentching

I need some help finding sources for great people who left out the second half of bentching (i.e. everything from the harachamans and on, after the four blessings). Most people seem to have the custom ...
WhoKnows's user avatar
  • 2,662
2 votes
1 answer
532 views

What is rationale behind banging on table during bentching?

There is one family that I occasionally eat with that has a minhag of banging on the table during Birkat ha-Mazon. I was wondering what reasons lay behind this custom. I do not know if this is ...
Mike's user avatar
  • 5,423
0 votes
0 answers
180 views

Conservative Jews saying "amen" instead of saying Harachamans

I've noticed that among Conservative Jews, it seems to be a common practice that one person recites the harachamans after Birkat Hamazon and others are silent and only respond "amen". Now, after one ...
user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
124 views

Why recite the fourth Berachah of Bentching in a case of doubt?

If someone is in doubt whether or not to Bentch, we take the strict approach and require the person to Bentch, as it is a Biblical requirement (see here), unlike most Berachoth, for which the rule is ...
Seth J's user avatar
  • 41.6k
1 vote
0 answers
73 views

Why don't we say Al Hanisim on other days?

We insert Al Hanisim on Purim and Channukah and that's fine -- each holiday is marked by a miracle. But why is its use limited to those days? Why don't we add it in to bentching and davening on Pesach ...
rosends's user avatar
  • 38.3k
4 votes
2 answers
132 views

Why is the beracha acharona for bread the longest?

On grains, wine and fruits we say a short paragraph, Al Hamichya. On Shechakol we say Borey Nefashot. But for bread we say a whole prayer, 5 minutes worth--even though meals lacking bread can be ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.2k