Jewish Law: What Blessing Do We Say on Toast?
Curious about which blessings to say before and after eating toast? Discover all the details you need and learn about the quantity required.
- הידברות
- פורסם י"ד חשון התשע"ז
#VALUE!
On the toast, we recite the blessing of Hamotzi (first blessing)
And at the end of the meal, we recite Birkat Hamazon (last blessing)
* * *
The amount of food required to be obligated to say the last blessing (from "Daily Halacha" based on the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, may his memory be a blessing):
On every item a person eats, they must recite a "first blessing," such as "Shehakol" or "Ha'etz." Even if a person eats only a small amount, they are obligated to say a blessing, as long as it is for eating. (However, if it's only to taste the food for seasoning purposes, no blessing is required.) Therefore, someone who chews flavored gum, even if they swallow very little, must still recite a blessing for the enjoyment of the taste. Similarly, anyone who drinks anything, even if it's just a single drop, must say a blessing.
However, all of this is only relevant to the first blessing. The last blessing is only recited after eating a significant amount of food, which is measured as a "kezayit" or 27 grams. For a drink, the amount is a "revi'it," or 81 grams.
Additionally, the eating or drinking must occur within a timeframe that combines into one continuous act. For instance, if a person eats a "kezayit" of bread throughout the day, piece by piece, they cannot recite Birkat Hamazon afterward. Instead, the eating of a "kezayit" must take place within the duration known as "Achilat Pras." Scholars differ on how long this period is, with some saying it is five minutes and others saying seven and a half minutes (and there are other opinions as well). Therefore, it is advised to eat a "kezayit" (especially at Shabbat meals) within four and a half minutes to fulfill all opinions.
Regarding the last blessing for a drink, one must drink a revi'it (81 grams) in one go. If there is a pause between sips, no last blessing is recited. Therefore, when eating soup with a spoon, one does not recite a last blessing, as the requisite amount isn't consumed in one go. Similarly, someone drinking hot coffee or tea doesn't recite a last blessing, as it's impossible to drink it all at once.
