This week, we will discuss whether one may talk or interrupt between washing the hands (netilat yadayim) and reciting the blessing over the bread (ha-motzi).
Last week, we began our study of the birkat ha-pat, birkat ha-motzi. We explained that we will divide our discussion of birkat ha-motzi into three parts: Pat ha-ba’ah be-kisanin (grain-based baked products upon which one generally recites borei minei mezonot unless they are eaten as a meal), hafka’at shem lechem (circumstances in which bread is transformed into a food upon which one no longer recites the blessing of ha-motzi), and foods upon which one always says borei minei mezonot, even if eaten as the basis of a meal (pasta, pancakes, etc.).
Last week, we learned that the Talmud (Berakhot 42a) rules that when pat ha-ba’ah be-kisanin is eaten as the basis of a meal, one recites Ha-Motzi before and Birkat Ha-Mazon after eating.
The upcoming shiurim will focus on other foods that are not considered to be bread, whose appropriate blessing is therefore Borei Minei Mezonot. Furthermore, as we shall see, some of these foods are so dissimilar to bread that even if they are eaten as the basis of a meal, one still says Borei Minei Mezonot upon eating.
After dedicating our first few shiurim to defining pat ha-ba’ah be-kisanin, upon which one recites the blessing of Borei Minei Mezonot unless it is eaten as the basis of one’s meal, last week we discussed two other types of foods: teronin and tarita.
This week, we will discuss whether bread can lose its status as bread, and we will relate to the proper blessings for breadcrumbs, matza brei, French toast, and kneidlach.
