 | Ch. 41:1-10. The Laws of taking bread and the blessing over it |
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| Ch. 41:1-10. The Laws of taking bread and the blessing over it |
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| 41:1 |
 On "full" bread *,
which is from the five
types of grain [wheat, barley, rye oats, and spelt],
one says, before (eating) it,
"who brings forth bread",
and grace after meals (is said) after (eating) it.* {The laws governing "bread in pockets" (pas habo'oh b'kisnin) - [a category including cakes, pies, and "mezonos bread"] - are explained in Ch. 48}. |
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| 41:2 |
Care should be taken not to have an interruption
between washing one's hands and saying
"who brings forth bread".
However, one may respond "Amen"
to any blessing one hears. Waiting longer than it takes to walk 22 cubits,
going from one house to another*
even if it is only a short walk,
or speaking about matters
that are not concerned with the meal
are considered to be interruptions.
After the fact,
an interruption is of no consequence
as long as one had not done
any actions meanwhile**
or engaged in prolonged conversation.
Since then,
one's attention was diverted (from one's hands),
and must wash them again. (See also Ch. 42:22.) * {The word "house" also has the connotation of "room" in halachic literature. Therefore, if possible, one should wash in the same room as one eats.} ** {An activity necessary for the meal is not considered an interruption.} |
| 41:3 |
One should cut the bread
at its most choice place
to show honor to the blessing.
The choicest (place) is the hard place,
where the bread is baked thoroughly
- i.e., the place
opposite the split (at the top of the bread).
For at the place where it begins to bake,
pressure is generated against the dough
until the opposite side splits open.
However, an elderly person
who has difficulty eating hard bread
should cut the bread at a soft point. Since it is also improper to interrupt,
by the delay (caused by) cutting (the bread),
between (saying) "who brings forth bread" and eating,
one should therefore cut a little
like a ring around the entire loaf
in a manner which,
should one lift up the cut piece,
the entire bread will be lifted up with it.
Otherwise it would be considered like a slice,
and it is desirable to bless "who brings forth bread"
while the loaf is still whole.
(This cut piece) is considered as attached to the loaf. One should say the blessing "who brings forth bread",
and after completing the blessing,
one should separate (the piece)
so that the blessing is made
while the loaf is still whole. Even when cutting from an incomplete loaf,
one should not cut off completely (the piece of bread)
before the blessing.
So that at the time of the blessing,
(the bread) will be at its largest. On the Sabbath, one should not cut the bread at all
until after saying the blessing.
So that the loaf is entirely whole. (See Ch. 77:17.*)
Even during the week,
if one is eating a soft loaf
one may bless before cutting,
for breaking (such a loaf) does not cause a delay. * {Nevertheless, is customary to pass the knife over the bread to leave a mark before saying the blessing.} |
| 41:4 |
One should not cut off a small piece
because this appears miserly.
Nor a piece larger than a k'beitzoh,
for then he appears gluttonous.
This applies only when one eats alone.
When one eats with many others
and must give, from the cut-off portion,
(a piece) the size of a k'zayis to each person,
it is permitted to cut as large a piece as necessary. On the Sabbath,
even if one eats alone,
it is permitted to cut as large a piece as he needs
for the entire meal,
in honor of the Sabbath.
One shows how dear the Sabbath meals are to us,
by our desire to eat a large meal. One should eat the piece
which one cut (from the bread)
before one eats any other bread.
This is a sign of the dearness of the mitzvah,
for one blessed over that (piece).
It is important to take care
that no portion of it be given
to a gentile,
animal,
or fowl. |
| 41:5 |
Before blessing,
one should place both hands on the loaf,
for they have ten fingers
(symbolizing) the ten mitzvos
that are associated with (making) bread; (which are): (Deut. 22:10) "Do not plow with an ox and an ass"; (ibid. 22:9) (the ban on planting) mixed species; (Lev. 19:9) (allowing the poor) to glean; (Deut. 24:19) (leaving) forgotten (sheaves for them); (Lev. 19:9) (leaving the) corners (of the field); (Deut. 25:4) (the ban against) muzzling (an ox); (Num. 18:12) donation (part of the harvest to priests); (Num. 18:2) the first tithe; (Deut. 14:22) the second tithe; (Num. 15:21) (the separation of) challah; Accordingly, there are ten words
in the blessing "who brings forth bread";
and ten words in the verse (Psalms 145:15):
"The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
and You give them their food at the proper time";
and ten words (about the produce of Israel)
in the verse (Deut. 8:8):
"a land of wheat, barley...(and date honey]";
and ten words (in Isaac's blessing to Jacob)
in the verse (Gen. 27:28):
"(May G-d) grant you...(much grain and wine)." When he says G-d's name (in the blessing)
he should lift up the loaf.
On the Sabbath, he should lift up both (loaves). He should bless with concentration,
taking care to pronounce properly
the "hey" of the word "who brings forth".
One should pause slightly
between the word
"bread"
and the word
"from"
so that the "Mem" will not be swallowed. After the blessing,
one should eat (from the bread) immediately.
It is forbidden to make any interruption
between a blessing and starting to eat
- even to respond "Amen."
It is proper to eat a k'zayis*
without any interruption.**(See Ch. 50:5.) * {According to Shiurei Torah, approximately 26 grams in modern measure; according to Rav Moshe Feinstein, approximately 31 grams, and according to the Chazon Ish, approximately 36 grams.} ** {The Misgeres Hashulchon 7 and Mishnoh B'rurah (167:35) state this stringency need not be followed.} |
| 41:6 |
It is a mitzvah to bring salt to the table
before breaking (the bread)
and to dip the bread
in the salt.*
Because the table is like an altar (see Ch. 44:4)
and our food, a sacrifice.
It was said [Lev. 2:13]:
"On all your sacrifices,
offer salt." * {The Shulchon Oruch HoRav (167:8) and the Mishnoh B'rurah (167:33) mention, that, according to Kabbalah, it is proper to dip the bread in the salt three times.}
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| 41:7 |
When distributing
the portions of the bread,
(on which was said) "who brings forth bread",
to those assembled,
one should not throw them,
for it is forbidden to throw bread.
And also not give it into their hand,
rather place it before them. |
| 41:8 |
It is a mitzvah to break (bread)
on the more important loaf.
Accordingly,
if there is in front of one, a portion of a loaf
and a whole loaf,
and intends to eat from both during the meal,
and they are both of the same species (of grain),
even if the whole loaf
is smaller than the cut one
and also is of lower quality (coarser) (lit. not clean)
compared to the portion (of a loaf),
nevertheless,
one should break (bread) with the whole (loaf),
for it is considered more important. However, if they are not of the same species,
but the whole (loaf)
is (made) from an inferior species (of grain)
- e.g., the whole one is a loaf (made from) spelt
while the cut one is a loaf (made from) from wheat,
even it is smaller,
one should bless over the wheat (loaf). Nevertheless, if the whole (loaf) is of barley
even though this is inferior to wheat,
still barley is also
explicitly mentioned
in the verse (on the produce of Israel Deut. 8:8),
furthermore, this (loaf) is whole.
Accordingly, a person who fears G-d
should divide the honors,
both to the whole barley (loaf and to the cut wheat loaf). What should he do?
He should place the cut (loaf) beneath the whole (loaf)
and cut them both at the same time. If both (loaves) are whole
or both are cut,
and both are of the same species,
one should bless over
the better quality (made from finer flour) one.
If both are of the same quality,
one should bless on the larger one. |
| 41:9 |
If he has before him
(both) bread (baked by) a Jew
and bread (baked by) an idolater,
and is not careful
(about eating) bread (baked by) an idolater (see Ch. 38),
provided both loaves are whole,
or both are cut (sliced),
and both are equal size,
and of the same species (of grain),
he should bless over the bread (baked by) a Jew.
If that (bread baked by) of the Jew is of lower quality
compared to that (bread) from the idolater,
one may bless on whichever one he wants. If a host is careful
about eating bread (baked by) an idolater,
but provides it for a guest,
he should remove it from his table
until after saying "who brings forth bread". |
| 41:10 |
All the (above) laws of precedence to the important (loaf)
apply only when one intends to eat
from both of them at this meal.
However, if one does not intend
to eat at this meal except from only one loaf ,
he should break (bread) with the one he wants to eat,
and no attention is paid to importance. |