Halacha: What Blessing is Recited Over Milk?
Wondering what blessing to recite over milk? Find out about both the initial and final blessings, including an explanation of the consumption amount.
- הידברות
- פורסם א' חשון התשע"ז
#VALUE!
On the milk, recite Shehakol (initial blessing)
At the end of the consumption, recite Borei Nefashot (final blessing)
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The amount of consumption required to obligate a final blessing (from "Daily Halacha" by the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l):
For everything a person eats, they must recite an "initial blessing," such as the blessing "Shehakol" or "Ha'etz." Even if only a small amount is eaten, a blessing is required, as long as it is being eaten for consumption. (But if tasting a food only to adjust flavor with seasoning, etc., no blessing is needed.) Therefore, someone chewing flavored gum, even if not swallowing much of it, must still bless for deriving pleasure from its taste. Similarly, one must bless before drinking something, even if only drinking a single drop.
However, this is specifically concerning the initial blessing, but a final blessing is only recited if one has eaten a "significant consumption," which is the size of "kezayit," meaning twenty-seven grams. For drinking, the measure is a "revi'it," which is eighty-one grams.
Additionally, the eating or drinking must occur within a time period where the consumption unites. If one eats a "kezayit" of bread throughout an entire day, crumb by crumb, certainly one cannot then recite the Grace After Meals. The "kezayit" must all be consumed within the duration known as "Achilat Pras," and there's a dispute among authorities regarding this duration, with some saying it is five minutes and others around seven and a half minutes (with other opinions as well). Therefore, it is advisable to always eat the "kezayit" amount (particularly at Shabbat meals) within four and a half minutes to fulfill all opinions.
Regarding a final blessing over a beverage, one must drink a revi'it of the beverage (i.e., eighty-one grams) at once, for if sipped with pauses between each sip, no final blessing is recited. Therefore, someone sipping soup with a spoon does not recite a final blessing over the soup, for they have not consumed a revi'it at once. Similarly, one drinking coffee or tea while hot does not recite a final blessing, as they cannot drink it all at once.
