Halacha: What Blessing Do We Say on Raisins?
Want to know the blessing for raisins, both before and after eating? All the details are here, including an explanation on the amount to eat.
- הידברות
- פורסם י"ד חשון התשע"ז

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On the raisins, we say Ha'etz (the first blessing)
And after eating, we say Al Ha'etz (the after blessing)
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Amount of eating required to obligate the after blessing (from "Halacha Yomit" based on the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zatzal):
For anything a person eats, he must say the "first blessing," such as the blessing "Shehakol" or "Ha'etz." Even if he eats only a small amount of the food, he must bless on it, as long as he is eating it for the purpose of eating. (But if he only tastes the food to adjust it by adding spices and so forth, he does not bless on this tasting at all). Therefore, someone who chews flavored gum, even though he swallows very little of it, must bless for the enjoyment of its flavor. Similarly, one who comes to drink something should bless, even if he drinks only a single drop of the beverage.
However, all this concerns the first blessing, but the last blessing is only said if one ate a "significant amount" considered as "kezayit," i.e., twenty-seven grams, and for drinks, the amount is "revi'it," which is eighty-one grams.
Additionally, the eating or drinking must occur within a time frame so that the consumption of the entire amount is combined. For example, if a person eats throughout a whole day the amount of a "kezayit" of bread, bit by bit, he certainly cannot bless the Grace after Meals later. Rather, the entire "kezayit" must be eaten within the time frame of "Achilat Pras," and the poskim disagree on this duration, with some saying it is five minutes and others about seven and a half minutes (and there are more opinions). Therefore, it is correct to always eat the amount of a kezayit (especially during Shabbat meals) within four and a half minutes to fulfill all opinions.
Regarding the after blessing on drinks, one must drink a revi'it of the beverage (which is eighty-one grams) all at once; if he pauses between sips, he does not bless the last blessing at all. Therefore, one who drinks soup with a spoon does not bless the last blessing on that soup, for he did not drink a revi'it at once, and similarly for one who drinks hot coffee or tea, he does not bless after because he cannot drink it all at once.