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

Question

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 others join at the end.

Let's say you have a group of 10 people travelling in 2 cars that follow each other constantly - 5 in each car. All 10 people stop at a rest stop, wash hands, and are about to sit together at a picnic table when they see a funnel cloud in the distance. They jump in their cars, and since they made the bracha for washing hands, they eat bread in the cars.

About an hour later, they meet again at another rest stop. They don't eat anything, there.

Can they make a joint 10 zimun saying Elokenu? (They washed together and had intent to begin together and they are one "group") Or, should each group of 5 make their own "3-person" zimun while riding in the car?

Answer 1

The 'eating together' that binds a group together for Zimmun would have to be eating. Preparing for the meal together, or performing any pre-meal prerequisites/rituals (such as washing hands) is not any form of kvius.

Two groups of people who eat even in the same house (which two cars do not fit that description), can only be mitztaref for Zimmun if they could see each other.

In two separate houses (which is the equivalent of two cars), the Shulchan Aruch rules that they may join together if they can see each other, provided that the Reshus Harabim does not divide between the houses.

Therefore, the street between the two cars will invalidate the Zimun.