Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein Discusses the Wonderful Omen Hidden in the 'Borei Nefashot' Blessing

Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein, member of the Council of Torah Sages and rabbi of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood, recently highlighted the special power of the "Borei Nefashot" blessing.

"This short blessing accustoms us to thank Hashem for every small detail of our lives," Rabbi Zilberstein explained.

"This can be compared to a father and his young son - when the son expresses gratitude to his father, the father feels tremendous affection toward his son. Likewise, Hashem created good things in His world so that we will thank Him with this blessing. I heard a remarkable story from a Rebbe about a soldier who survived many wars and was miraculously saved multiple times. The soldier explained that he left that he merited special Divine protection because he always recited 'Borei Nefashot' with proper intention, filled with genuine gratitude to Hashem."

The Rabbi further explained that "Borei Nefashot" is also a segulah (omen) for fertility. If one recites it with proper intention, souls will be created, in line with the literal meaning of the words "Creator of [numerous] souls." 

1. The Text of the Blessing

Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, Creator of numerous living beings and their needs, for all that You have created with which to sustain the soul of every living being. Blessed is He Who is the Life of the worlds.

Borei Nefashot is recited following the consumption of most types of food and drink (such as water, rice, poultry and meat, fruits and vegetables), aside from dough products (such as bread and cakes), wine, and fruits from the seven species that are special products of the Land of Israel - after which Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals) or the blessing of Me'ein Shalosh is recited.

3. The Meaning of the Blessing

"Creator of numerous souls" - Creator of humans and animals

"and their deficiencies" - and all that they lack, all their needs

"for all that You have created" - for all the things You created in the world

"to sustain with them" - through which to sustain

"the soul of every living being" - the souls of all living creatures

"Blessed is He Who is the Life of the worlds" - blessed is Hashem Who gives life to all worlds.

4. Gratitude Even for Non-Essential Food

The Ba'al HaTur explains that this blessing refers to everything created in the world that isn't essential for human life (unlike bread for example, which has its own special blessing - Birkat Hamazon - on account of its importance). We acknowledge the existence of essential food while also giving thanks for non-essential food.

5. Laws of Borei Nefashot (from the Yalkut Yosef)

* When it comes to fruit, aside from the five species that are special products of the Land of Israel, as well as ground fruits and vegetables, and anything that doesn't grow from the earth - if one ate a k'zayit (about 27 grams) within the time frame of k'dei achilat pras (about 7.5 minutes), the Borei Nefashot blessing should be recited afterward.

* Similarly, if one drank a revi'it of water or other beverages (aside from wine), at one time, he should recite Borei Nefashot afterward.

* If one drank a beverage for longer than the time it ordinarily takes to drink a revi'it at once, he does not recite Borei Nefashot.

* If one ate a k'zayit of fruit (not from the seven species), a k'zayit of ground fruits, or a k'zayit of cheese, and drank a revi'it of water, one recites a single blessing after all of them.

* One does not recite an after-blessing unless he ate a k'zayit within k'dei achilat pras. But, if one ate a k'zayit over a longer period than k'dei achilat pras, he does not recite an after-blessing at all.

* For ritual eating, such as eating matzah and bitter herbs and the like, one should be careful to eat a k'zayit within k'dei achilat pras (about seven and a half minutes). When it comes to Torah obligations, it is appropriate to eat a k'zayit within four minutes.