Halacha: What Blessing is Recited on Lettuce?
Learn what blessings to recite on lettuce - the initial and final blessings, including details on the amount of consumption.
- הידברות
- פורסם ה' חשון התשע"ז
#VALUE!
For lettuce, the blessing Ha'adama (initial blessing) is recited.
At the conclusion of eating, the blessing Borei Nefashot (final blessing) is recited.
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The amount needed to require a final blessing (from "Daily Halacha" from the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory):
For everything a person eats, they must recite an "initial blessing" such as the blessing of "Shehakol" or "Ha'etz." Even if they eat only a little of that food, they are required to bless it, as long as it is for the sake of eating. (But if they only taste a food to adjust its flavor by adding seasoning or the like, they do not bless this tasting at all). Therefore, one who chews flavored gum, even though they swallow only a very little of it, must still bless because they enjoy its taste. Likewise, anyone who intends to drink something should bless it even if they take just a drop from that beverage.
This applies only to the initial blessing. A final blessing is recited only after eating "a significant consumption," which is defined as the measure of an "olive's volume," meaning 27 grams, and in drinking, the measure is "Revi'it," which is 81 grams.
Furthermore, the eating or drinking must be completed within a specific time frame for the consumption to join together. For if someone eats an olive's volume of bread throughout a whole day, bit by bit, they certainly cannot recite the blessing after the meal. Instead, consumption of an olive's volume needs to be within the timeframe of "Achilat Pras," and opinions vary on how long this is, with some saying five minutes and others saying about seven and a half minutes (there are other opinions as well). Therefore, it's advisable to always eat the olive's volume (especially during Shabbat meals) within four and a half minutes to satisfy all opinions.
Regarding the final blessing for beverages, one must drink a Revi'it (81 grams) all at once. If the drinking is interrupted between sips, no final blessing is recited. Therefore, if one sips soup with a spoon, they do not recite a final blessing on that soup, as they have not consumed a Revi'it all at once. Similarly, one who drinks hot coffee or tea does not recite a final blessing because they cannot drink it all at once.
