17. How many after blessings to recite – Having a single Bracha Achrona count on behalf of many foods:

This Halacha will deal with the scenario in which a person has eaten a number of different foods, which either share the same after blessing or have a different after blessing, and the question is racist how many after blessing should be recited. Even when eating foods of two different after blessings there are scenarios in which the after blessing of one food can cover the after blessing of the second food, as will be explained in B.

1. Foods of same after blessing:[1]

If one ate or drank a Shiur Kezayis or Revius of many different foods, then if they all contain the same after blessing, then a single after blessing counts on behalf of them all. [This applies even if one said an individual before blessing on each food, such as if one switched rooms in between[2], or one did not have the second food in mind at the time the first blessing was recited[3], nonetheless they can both be included in the same after blessing. [This applies even if one ate a Borei Nefashos food and beverage by which we rule that they do not join each other to make up the minimum eating measurement of a Kezayis or Revius, nevertheless, only a single after blessing of Borei Nefashos is to be recited.[4]]

• Examples – Cake and cookies: After eating a slice of cake and a handful of cookies—both of which require the after blessing “Al Hamichya”—one recites “Al Hamichya” once, and it exempts both foods.
• Juice and fruit: If someone drinks a glass of apple juice and then eats a piece of melon—both of which require “Borei Nefashos” as their after blessing—they say a single “Borei Nefashos” after finishing, which covers both the juice and the melon.
• Dates and figs: Upon eating a Kezayis of dates and figs, both fruits from the seven species one recites “Al HaEtz” after blessing once, and it counts for both types of fruit.

1. Foods of different after blessings:

Even when eating foods of two different after blessings there are scenarios in which the after blessing of one food can cover the after blessing of the second food, as will now be explained.

Meal foods – Birchas Hamazon:[5] All foods which are eaten during a Hamotzi meal, including even dessert foods, are included in the after blessing of Birchas Hamazon, as will be explained in length in volume 2 in the chapters dealing with foods eaten during a meal. However, there do exist scenarios even during a Hamotzi meal in which an individual after blessing must be recited on a given food or beverage prior to reciting Birchas Hamazon, and at times even after already having recited Birchas Hamazon, as will be explained there.[6]

Ikar and Tafel:[7] See Chapter 17 Halacha 1B! When a before blessing on a primary food covers a secondary food (Ikar and Tafel), the after blessing on the primary food also covers the secondary food. This however only applies if the before blessing actually included the secondary food; however, if one did not exempt the before blessing over the secondary food with the before blessing over the primary food [such as if it was not present and one did not have it in mind at the time of the blessing, or one preceded the blessing of the secondary food to that of the primary food, as was explained there], then if they have different after blessings, both must be recited.

Wine and other liquids:[8] See Chapter 15 Halacha 5B! If one drank a Revius of wine and other beverages, then the after blessing of Al Hagafen over the wine exempts with it the after blessing of Borei Nefashos from all drinks that were drank prior. This applies even if one had to say a Shehakol on the drink. In the event that an Al Hagafen is not recited, such as one is before a meal or did not drink a Revius of wine, one must recite the blessing of Borei Nefashos on the other drinks.

Ate Meiyn Gimel and Borei Nefashos foods – How many after blessings to recite: See Halacha 13F!

Fruits of Shivas Haminim and other fruits:[9] See Halacha 13F! If one ate a Kezayis of seven species fruits and also ate fruits that are not from the seven species, such as an apple and the like, then there is no need for one to recite an after blessing of Borei Nefashos on the apple, and simply reciting the after blessing of Al Hapeiros over the seven species fruit suffices being that the other fruits are included within the wording of “Al Haietz, Veal Peri Haeitz.”

[1] Admur 207:1; Michaber 207:1; Tur 207; M”A 207:1 that this applies to both food and drink; Rama 178:2

[2] See Chapter 20 Halacha 1D; Rama 178:2; Tosafus Pesachim 101b; Rav Chisda Pesachim ibid; See Kaf Hachaim 178:5 and 8 and 15; So rule regarding Hesech Hadas that it’s a Bracha Sheiyno Tzericha: Michaber 169:3; Birchas Habayis Shaar 22:11; Piskeiy Teshuvos 178 footnote 3

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that one must always first recite an after blessing on what he ate and then repeat the blessing on the continued eating. [Michaber 178:1; M”A 178:1; Taz 178:2; Rav Sheishes Pesachim ibid; Kaf Hachaim 178:1 and 8]

[3] See Chapter 19 Halacha 2A; Michaber 169:3; Birchas Habayis Shaar 22:11

[4] M”A 207:1

[5] See Seder 4-5; Admur 174; 177-179; Ketzos Hashulchan 31; 40; 42

[6] Such as if one performed Hesech Hadas or Siluk from the bread and Shinuiy Makom, or already performed Mayim Achronim or poured the Kos Shel Bracha, or ate foods before the start of the meal.

[7] Seder 3:1; Luach 4:1; Admur 212:1; Michaber 212:1; Beis Yosef 212; Darkei Moshe 212

[8] Seder 1:21; Ketzos Hashulchan 60:7

[9] Seder 1:14; Luach 1:12; Michaber 208:13; Tur 208; Rambam Brachos 8:16; Rosh Brachos 6:42