10. Hefsek between blessing and eating when being Yotzei a Bracha:[1]

See Chapter 7 Halacha 3 for the full details of this subject!

Just as one who recites a blessing may not speak between the blessing and eating, so too one who is being Yotzei a blessing with another person [such as one who hears Hagafen from another], may not speak until he eats and swallows the food. It does not suffice for the person who recited the blessing to eat and swallow the food, as also the person who is fulfilling the blessing through hearing it from him must eat and swallow the food prior to speaking.

• Example: David hears Kiddush on wine from a friend. Before taking a sip, he asks, “Did you chill this wine?” Since he spoke about something unrelated to the blessing before drinking, he must repeat the blessing himself before drinking.

Switching rooms between the blessing and the eating:[2] One who hears a blessing may not switch rooms between the blessing, and eating and swallowing of the food.[3] [This applies even if one intended to switch rooms when he said the blessing.[4] Initially, one should not even walk from one corner of the room to another corner of the room, between the blessing and eating, although one may walk within his four cubits between the blessing and eating.[5]]

Bedieved if talked or switched rooms between Bracha and eating: If one spoke of matters that do not pertain to the eating in between the blessing and the eating, then he must repeat the blessing.[6] This applies even to one who is being Yotzei a blessing from another, that if he spoke between the blessing that he heard and the eating, then he must personally recite the blessing himself.[7] [Likewise, if one switched rooms between the blessing and eating, then he must repeat the blessing.[8]]

• Example 1: Sara hears the Hamotzi blessing over bread in the dining room. Before eating, she steps into the kitchen to grab salt. Because she changed rooms between the blessing and eating, she must repeat the blessing before eating her bread.
• Example 2: Avi recites the Shehakol blessing over candy and walks to the other side of the living room (within four cubits) before eating. This is permitted, and he does not need to repeat the blessing.

Speaking in middle of hearing a blessing:[9] Just as it is forbidden to speak between hearing a blessing and eating or drinking, so too it is forbidden to speak [or switch rooms] within the middle of hearing a short blessing for any matter. Even Bedieved, one who speaks [or switches rooms] in between is not Yotzei the blessing.[10] Furthermore, by the middle of a blessing, this prohibition applies even if he spoke of matters that relate to the food or blessing nonetheless, the blessing is invalid and must be repeated.[11] Hence, even intervening with Amen or Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo in the middle of a blessing possibly invalidates it no matter where the person intervened.[12] [Certainly, one may not tell people “Shah” to be quiet in middle of a blessing. Nevertheless, Bedieved if one answered Amen or Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo in middle of the blessing, even in between G-d’s name and kingship, one is not to repeat the blessing although he is to try to hear it from someone else.]

• Example 1: Rachel begins the blessing over challah but pauses mid-phrase to tell someone to be quiet. This interruption invalidates the blessing, and she must start over.
• Example 2: During someone else’s blessing, Eli mistakenly says “Amen” in the middle of their phrase. While this interruption may invalidate the blessing, he does not repeat it himself but should try to hear it from another person if possible.
• Example 3: Chaim starts the blessing and, mid-sentence, says, “This cake looks delicious!” Even though his comment is about the food, the blessing is invalid and must be repeated.

Situation	Law/Outcome	Notes
Speaking between blessing and eating	Blessing must be repeated	Applies to both reciter and listener
Switching rooms between blessing and eating	Blessing must be repeated	Even if intended; applies to listener and reciter
Walking within four cubits between blessing and eating	Permitted	Should not walk to another corner of the room initially
Speaking during the blessing itself	Blessing is invalid and must be repeated	Even if speech relates to food or blessing
Interrupting with “Amen” or “Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo” during blessing	May invalidate blessing	Do not repeat blessing, but try to hear it from someone else
Telling people “Shah” to be quiet in middle of blessing	Forbidden	—
Summary	No speaking or switching rooms before eating and swallowing after blessing	Rule applies to both reciter and listener

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[1] Admur 167:10 and 18; 124:2 in parentheses; Taz 167:8; M”A 167:19; Mordechai Pesachim 35a; Rosh Pesachim 10:5; Tosafus Pesachim 101a; See Hearos Ubiurim 765 p. 49

[2] Admur 167:9; See Admur 178:1 regarding Hefsek of switching areas while eating; Admur 8:21-22 regarding Hefsek of switching area between Mitzvos; Admur 166 regarding Hefsek of walking between washing and Hamotzi; See regarding that walking in middle of a Mitzvah [in contrast to eating] is never a Hefsek: Admur 90:25; 104:2; Kuntrus Achron 8:5; 589:2; M”A 8:17; Tehila Ledavid 166:3; Machsheves Chaim p. 135

[3] The reason: As walking from one room to another is considered an interval. [Admur ibid]

[4] Tehila Ledavid 166:3

[5] Tehila Ledavid 166:3

[6] Seder 9:1; Luach 6:1; Admur 167:9; 206:3; 271:15, 26; 25:18-20 and 432:6 regarding Birchas Hamitzvos; Michaber 167:6; Tur 167; Brachos 40a

The reason: As when one makes an interval between the blessing and eating it does not appear as if the blessing is counting on behalf of that food. [Admur 47:7]

[7] Admur 167:10 and 18; Taz 167:8; M”A 167:19; Beis Yosef 167; Mordechai Pesachim 35a; Rosh Pesachim 10:5; Tosafus Pesachim 101a; Ramban Pesachim 181; Peri Chadash 167:7; Elya Raba 167:13; Perach Shushan O.C. 1:14; Kneses Hagedola; Erech Hashulchan 167:4; Birkeiy Yosef 167:3 and Shiyurei Bracha 167:2; Zechor Leyitzchak 38; Chayeh Adam 5:11; M”B 167:43 that so rule almost all Poskim; Kaf Hachaim 167:58 that so is ruling even for Sephardim and we d not apply Saba”l in this case; See Hearos Ubiurim 765 p. 49 See Piskeiy Teshuvos 167:11

The reason: As the law regarding the person who hears the blessing should not be any less stringent than the law applicable to the person who said the blessing, and just as by the person who said the blessing we rule that if he speaks of unrelated matters between the blessing and eating that he must repeat the blessing being that he made an interval between the blessing and eating, so too, we apply this rule to one who spoke between his hearing of the blessing and his eating, as one who hears a blessing is like one who recited it himself. [Admur ibid; Taz 167:8; Beis Yosef 167; See Admur 104:5 regarding Shomeia Keoneh]

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that if one of the participants spoke between him hearing the blessing and eating, then so long as the person who said the blessing has already eaten the food after his blessing, then they fulfill their obligation and may eat without repeating a new blessing beforehand. [Rama 167:6; Bach 167; Beis Yosef 167 in name of Rokeiach; See Kaf Hachaim 167:58] The same applies if any of the participants already ate the food. [Rikanti 59; Kneses Hagedola 167:81; Olas Tamid 167:10; Elya Raba 167:12; P”M 167 M”Z 8; See Kaf Hachaim 167:59]

If the Mivareich spoke: If the individual who recited the blessing spoke and invalidated his blessing, nonetheless the blessing remains valid for the participants and they may eat on the basis of his blessing. [P”M 167 M”Z 8; Ben Ish Chaiy Emor 16; M”B 213:15; 209:8; Shaar Hatziyon 213:18; Kaf Hachaim 167:59; Sdei Chemed Asifas Dinim Hefsek Yud; Yabia Omer 8:24; Mishneh Halachos 6:34] However, other Poskim rule the blessing is invalid for the listeners. [M”B 167:42 in implication of many Poskim, although concludes with Tzaruch Iyun] See Birchas Habayis 25:18 regarding Birchas Hamitzvos; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 167:12 in detail

[8] Tehila Ledavid 166:3; Implication of Admur 167:9

^[9]  See Admur 124:2 in parentheses [regarding Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo]; Chayeh Adam 5:13 [regarding Amen]; Birchas Habayis 1:13; Ketzos Hashulchan 5:11; Piskeiy Teshuvos 167:9

[10] The reason: As we rule that one who spoke after reciting a blessing, prior to doing the action, of matters unrelated to the blessing must repeat the blessing. All the more so, would this apply if one who speaks anytime during the actual a blessing that he must repeat the blessing. The reason for this is because by a short blessing all the words must be connected to each other, and sound like a single sentence. When one speaks in the middle, it invalidates the sentence irrelevant to what matter of speech was discussed. Likewise, it changes from the Nussach that the sages established and at times creates an interval between Hashem and Malchus, if he spoke in between those areas. [See Admur 124:2; Chayeh Adam 5:13; According to the above, it is not understood why Admur depends the question of whether answering Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo invalidates the blessing on the fact that he interrupted between G-d’s name and kingship, as in truth it should be invalidated regardless due to Hefsek, and Shinuiy Matbeia. Vetzaruch Iyun]

[11] Chayeh Adam 5:13

[12] Admur ibid; Chayeh Adam 5:13