Community Magazine July 2009

Prepared by Rabbi Eliyahu Tobal. Reviewed by Harav Ezra Zafrani shlita. Hacham Ezra Zafrani is the Rabbi of Kehilat Etz Hayim, and Rosh Kollel of Kollel Shel Shoshana in Lakewood NJ. Rabbi Zafrani’s shiurim can be heard on www.limudnet.org The Halachot and customs listed here are not presented in any particular order. These summaries represent a very brief overview of the subject matter to promote general awareness and encourage further study. As always, readers should consult their rabbi with specific queries. B 8 LESSING IN SITUATIONS OF UNCERTAINTY If a man is unsure whether he recited Birkat Hamazon, he should recite the first three blessings (until “Boneh Yerushalayim” ). A woman in such a case does not recite Birkat Hamazon at all. If one ate between 29-58 grams of bread and does not remember if he recited Birkat Hamazon, then he does not recite it. If he is unsure whether he ate more or less than 58 grams and cannot remember whether he recited Birkat Hamazon, then he does not recite it. It is proper not to get involved in any other activity after eating until one recites Birkat Hamazon. R 9 ECITING THE BLESSING IN THE PROPER PLACE Birkat Hamazon must be recited in the place where one ate. However, if one recited Birkat Hamazon elsewhere, he does not repeat it. One who ate bread may not leave that room before reciting Birkat Hamazon unless this becomes necessary. Some authorities permit leaving the room if one can still see the place where he ate. If one mistakenly left the room without reciting Birkat Hamazon, he must return to the room and recite Birkat Hamazon. If he had traveled a long distance and will miss the final time for Birkat Hamazon by the time he returns, then he should recite the blessing in his current location. I 10 NSERTIONS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS On Shabbat, one adds to Birkat Hamazon the paragraph of “resseh vehahalissenu.” One who forgot to add this prayer on Shabbat, during Friday night or Shabbat lunch, must repeat Birkat Hamazon. If he realizes his mistake before reciting the words “HaKel Avinu,” then he should recite, “Baruch ata Hashem Elokenu melech ha’olam shenatan Shabbat lemenuha le’amo Yisrael” and then begin anew the blessing of “HaKel Avinu.” On Rosh Hodesh and holidays one adds the “ya’aleh veyavo” prayer to Birkat Hamazon. One who forgot to add this prayer does not repeat Birkat Hamazon, except on the first night of Pesah or the first night of Sukkot. If one realizes his mistake before “HaKel Avinu,” he may recite, without Hashem’s name, “Baruch shenatan yamim tovim le’amo Yisrael.” 76 Community magazine