Table of Contents
Foods – Reciting an After Blessing for Foods Consumed Before a Meal:[1]
Eating to Stimulate Appetite [i.e. Parparos, Hors d’Oeuvre, “audirbs”, Starters, and Appetizers]:[2]
All appetizers [i.e. Parparos], such as a variety of sweets [i.e. chocolate, or Mezonos pastries[3]] or species of fruits consumed before a meal for the purpose of stimulating the appetite and encouraging one to eat are considered connected to the meal. Therefore, they do not require a separate after-blessing prior to the meal, as they are covered by the Grace After Meals (Birkat HaMazon) just like we rule regarding wine which is consumed prior to the meal for the sake of opening the appetite [as explained in Halacha 2B]. This applies even if one does not plan on eating any of these foods within the meal itself.
- Example: Before eating dinner with bread, Sarah enjoys a few pieces of chocolate and some fruit to whet her appetite. Since she is eating these foods specifically to stimulate her appetite for the meal, she does not need to recite a separate after-blessing for them before the meal begins. Instead, these foods are included in the Grace After Meals (Birkat HaMazon) that she will say at the end of her dinner.
Eating for Pleasure:[4]
If one eats foods before the meal solely[5] for enjoyment, such as if he eats sweets [i.e. Parparos] or fruits before the meal for mere pleasure and not in order to open his appetite, then an after-blessing must be recited before beginning the meal and such foods are not exempt with Birchas Hamazon which will be recited at the end of the meal. This follows the same principles previously outlined regarding one who drinks prior to the meal. [This law applies to foods of any after blessing, whether Borei Nefashos, Al Hamichyah, or Al Hapeiros. This law, however, only applies if one does not plan on eating that food also during the meal and hence does not also exempt that food from requiring a before blessing, as will be explained below.]
- Example: Before dinner, Jacob eats a handful of cookies simply because he enjoys their taste, not to stimulate his appetite for the upcoming meal. Since his intention is just pleasure and not to prepare himself for eating, Jacob must recite an after-blessing for the cookies before starting his meal. These cookies are not initially allowed to be included in the Grace After Meals (Birkat HaMazon) that will be recited later.
Forgot to recite before meal and remembered during meal:[6] If one forgot to say the after blessing over the food that was eaten before the meal and had already begun the meal of bread, then it must be recited upon him remembering, even in middle of the meal. This law applies to foods of all after blessings, whether Borei Nefashos, Al Hamichyah, or Al Hapeiros.[7]
- Example: David eats several pieces of fruit before his dinner, solely for enjoyment. He forgets to say the after-blessing for these fruits before starting his meal of bread. In the middle of dinner, he remembers that he did not recite the appropriate after-blessing. According to the law, David should pause and recite the after-blessing for the fruit (such as “Borei Nefashos” or “Al HaEtz”), even though he is already in the middle of his meal. This applies to all types of after-blessings, like “Borei Nefashos,” “Al Hamichyah,” or “Al Hapeiros,” depending on the food he ate.
Forgot to recite before meal and remembered after Birchas Hamazon:[8] If one forgot to recite the after blessing over the foods eaten before the meal, prior to the meal and also during the meal and only remembered after reciting Birchas Hamazon[9], then he must recite the after blessing upon remembering after the meal, even after Birchas Hamazon, [provided no more than 10 minutes have passed since the end of the meal[10]]. Thus, whether he ate fruits of the seven species (or other fruits or ate other foods and drinks that receive the after blessing of Borei Nefashos[11]), the after blessing must be made up after Birchas Hamazon. There are however, three exceptions to this rule: dates[12], wine[13], and Mezonos[14] foods.[15] If one ate any of these foods before the meal and only remembered to recite an after blessing after he already recited Birkas Hamazon, then he is considered to have fulfilled his obligation with Birchas Hamazon and the after blessing is not to be repeated.[16] Nonetheless, as we stated above, even by these foods one is lechatchila required to recite the relevant after-blessing (such as Al Hamichyah, Al Hapeirot, or Al Hagafen) before Birkat Hamazon, and may not rely on the Bedieved exemption of after Birkas Hamazon.[17]
- Example: Rachel eats some grapes before her meal for enjoyment and forgets to say an after-blessing before starting her bread meal. She continues eating and only remembers after she has finished the meal and recited Birkat Hamazon. Since less than 10 minutes have passed, Rachel should now recite the appropriate after-blessing for the grapes (Al Hapeiros).
- Example: Samuel eats a slice of cake (Mezonos food) before his meal and forgets the after-blessing until after Birkat Hamazon. Since cake is also an exception, he does not recite “Al HaMichya” afterward. Still, he should have recited it before Birkat Hamazon.
- Example: Miriam eats dates before her meal and forgets the after-blessing until after Birkat Hamazon. Dates are an exception, so Birkat Hamazon fulfills her obligation, and she does not recite “Al HaEtz” afterward.
Plans to also eat the food during the meal:[18] The above ruling that requires an after blessing to be recited prior to the start of the meal, only applies if one does not intend to consume this food also during the meal and have that food exempted with the blessing that was recited before the meal. However, if one intends to consume items such as fruits or sweets both before and during the meal, and hence the before blessing recited before the meal also exempts the food eaten during the meal, then no after-blessing is required prior to the meal, even if the consumption before the meal was for pleasure.[19] [However, this only applies to non-meal foods that require a before blessing when eaten during the meal, such as fruits and desserts and the like, however, meal foods that are in any event exempt from a blessing during a meal, such as olives and vegetables, must have their after blessing recited prior to the start of the meal if eaten before the meal, even if one plans to also eat them during the meal.]
- Example: Esther eats some strawberries before her meal and plans to eat more strawberries as part of her dessert during the meal. Since the initial blessing before the meal covers all the strawberries she will eat, Esther does not need to recite an after-blessing before the meal, even if she enjoyed the strawberries before the meal for pleasure.
- Example: David eats olives before his meal and plans to have more olives during the meal. Since olives do not require a blessing when eaten during the meal, David must recite an after-blessing for the olives eaten before the meal, even if he will be eating more of them later.
Summary:
Eating to Stimulate Appetite: Foods eaten before a meal to whet the appetite (e.g., sweets, fruits, appetizers) are considered part of the meal and do not require an after-blessing before the meal. They are covered by Birkat HaMazon.
Eating for Pleasure: Foods eaten solely for enjoyment before the meal require an after-blessing before starting the meal, as they are not covered by Birkat HaMazon.
- If forgotten and remembered during the meal: recite the after-blessing immediately.
- If remembered after Birkat HaMazon: recite the after-blessing (within ~10 minutes), except for dates, wine, and Mezonos foods, which are covered by Birkat HaMazon after the fact.
- Planning to Eat Same Food During the Meal: If one intends to eat the same food both before and during the meal, the initial blessing covers all, and no after-blessing is required before the meal—except for foods that do not require a blessing during the meal (e.g., olives, vegetables), which still need an after-blessing before the meal.
In one Sentence:
An after-blessing must always be recited for foods eaten before the meal unless:
- the foods were eaten to stimulate the appetite, or
- they will also be eaten during the meal and exempted by the initial blessing, or
- they are dates, wine, or Mezonos foods (which are covered by Birkat HaMazon after the fact).
- The time of Shiur Ikkul has passed.
Table of Laws
| Scenario | Food Type | Purpose | After Blessing Before Meal Needed? | After Blessing During Meal? | After Blessing After Birkat Hamazon? | Exceptions |
| Eating to Stimulate Appetite | Appetizers, Parparos, Sweets, Mezonos pastries, Fruits | Stimulate appetite | No | Covered by Birkat HaMazon | No | None |
| Eating for Pleasure | Sweets, Parparos, Fruits | Pleasure only | Yes | If forgotten, recite during meal | If forgotten, recite after meal (if <10 min) | Dates, Wine, Mezonos foods |
| Forgot After Blessing, Remembers During Meal | Any food requiring after blessing | Pleasure only | Should have recited before meal | Recite upon remembering, even in middle of meal | — | — |
| Forgot After Blessing, Remembers After Birkat Hamazon | Fruits, Sweets, Drinks | Pleasure only | Should have recited before meal | — | Recite after meal if <10 min, except for exceptions | Dates, Wine, Mezonos foods (no after-blessing needed after Birkat Hamazon) |
| Exception: Mezonos food | Cake (Mezonos) | Pleasure only | Should have recited before meal | — | Not recited after Birkat Hamazon | Exception applies |
| Exception: Dates | Dates | Pleasure only | Should have recited before meal | — | Not recited after Birkat Hamazon | Exception applies |
| Plans to eat food during meal | Fruits, Sweets, Desserts | Pleasure or appetite | No | Covered by blessing recited before meal | — | Does not apply to meal foods exempt during meal |
| Meal foods exempt from blessing during meal | Olives, Vegetables | Pleasure or appetite | Yes | — | — | Even if planning to eat during meal |
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[1] See Seder Birchas Hanehnin 4:13 “And so, one who eats before the meal appetizers—such as sweet delicacies or types of fruit—to open the intestines and draw the heart toward eating, even though they will not have appetizers after the meal to exempt them, does not need to recite a blessing after them before the meal, for they are covered by the Grace after Meals, just like wine (for drinking) before the meal. However, if they eat them solely for enjoyment, and not to draw the heart toward the meal, then they must recite a blessing after them, for they are not covered by the Grace after Meals—just like the wine of Havdalah, as explained in Chapter 1.”; Seder Birchas Hanehnin 1:17 “The Grace After Meals (Birkat HaMazon) does not exempt the “Me’ein Shalosh” blessing. Such as if one ate fruits from the seven species before the meal solely for enjoyment, and not to stimulate the appetite (in which case they would be covered by Birkat HaMazon, as explained in Chapter 4), and forgot to recite the after-blessing and only remembered after reciting Birkat HaMazon—they must go back and recite “Al Ha’etz…” (and needless to say, this applies to fruits not from the seven species and other foods and drinks whose after-blessing is Borei Nefashot, as they are not covered by Birkat HaMazon). The exception is dates and wine, which are covered after the fact by the “HaZan” blessing in Birkat HaMazon, since they also satisfy the heart. Similarly, the five types of grain eaten before the meal are also covered after the fact by Birkat HaMazon. However, ideally, if one remembers before reciting Birkat HaMazon, they should first recite “Al HaMichya” before Birkat HaMazon, and likewise “Al Ha’etz” for dates and “Al HaGefen” for wine consumed before the meal—if the wine was not drunk to stimulate the appetite, as explained in Chapter 4.” Luach Birchas Hanehnin 5:15 “And likewise, someone who eats before the meal parperet (appetizers), such as sweet treats or preserves, to stimulate the appetite for eating — even if he does not have parperet after the meal to exempt them — does not need to recite a blessing after them before the meal, because they are included in the Grace After Meals (Birkat HaMazon), just like wine (for drinking) before the meal.” Luach 1:15; Ketzos Hashulchan 31:3; See regarding the law by drinks: Admur 174:6; 272:13; M”A 174:14; Rav Chaim Vital in name of Arizal in Shaar Hamitzvos Parshas Eikev; Shulchan Hatahor 174:6; Kaf Hachaim 174:47 in name of Birkeiy Yosef 174:2; Shaareiy Teshuvah 174:9; Erech Hashulchan Hashmatos 3; Ben Ish Chaiy Parshas Naso 2; Tehila Ledavid 174:10; M”B 174:25; Biur Halacha 174:6 “Veafilu”; 79:11; Piskeiy Teshuvos 174:12
[2] Seder 4:13; 1:17 in parentheses; Luach 5:15; Rosh Pesachim 10:24
[3] See Luach 5:12 and Admur 249 Kuntrus Achron 3 that Parparos are Mezonos appetizers
[4] Seder 4:13; 1:17; Luach 1:15; Admur 174:6; 197:5; 215:5; Michaber 208:17; Taz 174:9; 197:2; 208:18; Ran Pesachim 24b; Rosh Brachos 1:14; Rabbeinu Yona Brachos 6a; See Kaf Hachaim 208:87-88; Ketzos Hashulchan 60:5
[5] Both intents: If the intention of eating the food is both for pleasure and to open the appetite the implication is that the after blessing is not recited as it is nevertheless connected to the meal. [Rav Alyashvili Seder footnote 125]
[6] Seder 1:17 “However, ideally, if one remembers before Birkat HaMazon, one should first recite the blessing “Al HaMichya” (for grain-based foods) before Birkat HaMazon and likewise the blessing “Al HaEtz” for dates, and “Al HaGefen” for wine drunk before the meal”; Seder 4:12 and Admur 174:6 regarding Havdalah; Chesed Lealafim 174:3; Ben Ish Chaiy Naso 4; Kaf Hachaim 174:35; Piskeiy Teshuvos 174:12
[7] Seder 1:17; Luach 1:16; Admur 168:8; Even Haozer 208 end based on Yerushalmi Brachos 6:5
[8] Seder 1:17 regarding Shivas Haminim and in parentheses regarding non Shivas Haminim and Borei Nefashos foods; 4:12 in parentheses; Luach 1:15; Admur 174:6 in parentheses “And if one forgot and did not bless and remembered even after Birkat HaMazon, one must bless, because Birkat HaMazon does not exempt the “Borei Nefashot” blessing even after the fact.”; Admur 176:9; 197:5; Michaber 208:17; Brachos 35b; Ran Pesachim 24b; Rosh Brachos 1:14; Rabbeinu Yona Brachos 6a in name of Chachmei Tzarfas; See Kaf Hachaim 208:79, 87-88; 174:36;; Ketzos Hashulchan 31:1; 60:5;
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that Birchas Hamazon does not exempt wine that was drunk before the meal. [Raavad in Tamim Deim and Ramban in Milchamos Pesachim; Erech Hashulchan 174:2; Kaf Hachaim 174:36]
[9] Such as if he forgot and recited Biurchas Hamazon. [Seder 1:17] or he made a mistake and recited Birchas Hamazon. [Luach 1:5] See Ketzos Hashulchan 60 footnote 9
[10] As explained in Chapter 21 due to Shiur Ikkul
[11] Parentheses in original
[12] Seder ibid; Luach ibid; Admur 177:6; 197:5; Michaber 208:17; Brachos 12a; Rosh Brachos 1:14; Rabbeinu Yona Brachos ibid
[13] See Halacha 2B!
[14] Seder ibid; Luach 1:17 in name of Yeish Omrim and that one should suspect for their opinion due to Safek Barcha; Likkutei Peri Chadash 208:17; Even Heozer 208 end; Beir Hagoleh 208:17; Ran Brachos ibid; Rashba; Rosh; Machazik Bracha 208:3; Poskim in Kaf Hachaim 208:87-88; M”B 208:75; Piskeiy Teshuvos 208:23
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that one is not Yotzei Al Hamichayh of Poridge with Birchas Hamazon. [M”A 208:25]
[15] Beer: Regarding beer in relation to Birkat Hamazon: The Taz (174/8) maintains that beer is, post factum, included under Birkat Hamazon, even if it was drunk before the meal for enjoyment. However, Admur IN Kuntrus Achron 174:3 raises questions about this position and negates it.
[16] The reason: Bedieved one fulfills his obligation with Birchas Hazan, being that these foods also satiate the heart. [Seder ibid; Brachos ibid]
[17] Seder 1:17; Luach 1:16; Admur 168:8; Even Haozer 208 end based on Yerushalmi Brachos 6:5
[18] Ketzos Hashulchan 31:3; See Luach 5:12 that Parparos eaten before the meal exempt Parparos eaten during the meal; Admur 473:17; Admur 174:6 regarding Havdalah; Taz 299:6 and M”A 299:10; Similarly in 176:2 and Seder 4:12 Admur writes “he did not have in mind at all to drink wine during the meal” hence implying if he had in mind to drink wine during the meal, he does not say an after blessing;
Other Opinions: The Rama [299:7] rules one is to say an after blessing after Havdala even if he plans to drink wine during the meal.
[19] This is because the initial blessing extends to the portion consumed during the meal, thus rendering it part of the meal. [KH]
