Shaleim – Saying a Bracha on a whole food and When to cut a piece off from the food?^[1]

Whole fruit or vegetable: It is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar to recite the blessing of Haeitz or Hadama on a whole [i.e. Shaleim] fruit or vegetable.^[2] This applies even if one will need to delay the eating of the fruit or vegetable in order to first cut a piece off as a silent interruption that is made between the blessing and eating for the sake of eating is not considered an interval at all. Hence, when eating a whole fruit one is to first recite the blessing and only afterwards cut it to eat a piece in order to recite a blessing on a Shaleim, even though cutting it will inevitably create an interval between the blessing and eating.^[3] [Accordingly, even when eating a watermelon, one is to first say the blessing and then cut a piece off. However, some write that by very large fruits one is to first peel it and cut a piece off prior to saying the blessing.^[4]] One is to recite the entire blessing from beginning to end and only then begin to cut the fruit or vegetable.^[5]

A fruit or vegetable that needs to be checked for worms or edibility:^[6] All the above only refers to a fruit or vegetable that does not need to be cut open prior to eating in order to check it for worms or to check its state of edibility. If however it does need to be opened and checked for worms prior to eating, or if it needs to be opened to check to see if it is edible, then this should be done prior to say the blessing. Thus for example one who eats a nut, should first break open the nut to check it for worms and to make sure that it did not rot, in order so one does not recite a blessing in vain.

Loaf of Bread:^[7] It is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar to recite the blessing of Hamotzi on a whole [i.e. Shaleim] loaf of bread. One is to recite the entire blessing from beginning to end and only then begin cutting a slice off the loaf. Nonetheless, on a weekday one is to begin slightly cutting the bread before the Bracha, in order to proximate the Bracha to the eating as much as possible. However one must cut it in a way that it remains a Shaleim [whole], which means that he cuts only a minority of the area to the point that if one were to hold onto the cut area the bread would not fall apart. However, on Shabbos and holidays, one is not to cut the bread at all at the knife may slip and he may end up cutting the loaf in a way that ruins its wholeness.

Slice of bread: Even regarding a large slice of bread or partial loaf, one is to first recite the blessing and then cut a piece off the slice, as it is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar to recite a blessing over a large piece.

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[1] See Seder 9:2; 10:6; Luach 6:2; Admur 167:3; 168:1; 206:3; Ketzos Hashulchan 37:3; 55:3; Piskeiy Teshuvos 206:13

[2] Rambam Brachos 7:4; Brachos 39a; Shelah Shaar Haosiyos Os Kuf and Dinei Birchas Hanehnin Kelal 5:4; Elya Raba 202:1;

[3] Vetzaruch Iyun why Admur does not write to cut part of the fruit partially, just like Admur 167:3 rules regarding bread! What’s the difference? Likewise, Admur 206:8 implies there is no issue with stabbing the fruit prior to the blessing.

[4] Piskeiy Teshuvos 206:13 footnote 45

[5] See Admur 167:3

[6] Seder 9:2; Admur 206:3;

[7] Admur 167:3; Ketzos Hashulchan 37:

[8] So explicitly rules Admur 167:3 “However by a thin cake even during the week one does not need to cut it at all prior to the blessing as the year is no delay between the breaking off of a piece after the blessing.”

[9] See Admur Seder 9:2, Luach 6:2, and 206:3 that one is to not cut a fruit until after the blessing, as it is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar to say the blessing on a whole food. Now, this is not considered a Hefsek as it is done for the sake of the eating

[10] Kitzur SHU”A 119:3

[11] See Otzer Minhagei Chabad p. 134