Two Aspects of Birchas Ha’nehenin – a Mitzvah to Recite the Bracha and an Issur to Eat Without a Bracha
by Rabbi Nachum Scheiner
The Acharonim write that there are, in fact, two aspects in the requirement of birchas ha’nehenin:
- Just as before performing a mitzvah, there is a mitzvah to recite a bracha, before eating, there is also a mitzvah to recite a bracha. If someone did a mitzvah without reciting a bracha, he has still fulfilled the mitvzah, but he has missed out on the requirement to recite a bracha. Similarly, if someone ate without reciting a bracha, he has missed out on the requirement to recite a bracha.
- Besides the requirement to recite a bracha, there is also a prohibition to eat without reciting a bracha, and if someone ate without a bracha, he is considered stealing, as the Gemara tells us.
The Maharsha (Pesachim 102b) discusses these two dimensions. He writes that when it comes to birchas hamitzvos, if there is a question if one should recite a bracha, the rule is: “when in doubt, leave it out.” Since the bracha is not a prerequisite in performing the mitzvah, and it is not clear if a bracha is needed, the bracha can be omitted. However, when it comes to birchas ha’nehenin, if there is a question if one should recite a bracha, he must recite the bracha, and we cannot apply the rule: “when in doubt, leave it out.” He explains that if one is really required to recite a bracha, and he does not recite the bracha, he is considered stealing. Therefore, if he is doubt he must recite a bracha, to be sure that he is not stealing.
Rav Leib Malin points out that this seems clear from the words of the Rambam, who writes that there is a mitzvah to recite a bracha before eating, and then adds that if one does not recite a bracha, it is considered stealing from Hashem. Rav Shach adds that the Rambam pointed this out for an important reason. If it would merely be a positive command to recite a bracha, if he is unable to recite a bracha, he can still eat the food. Now that see that it is also an issur to eat without a bracha, since it is considered stealing, if one is unable to recite a bracha, he is not be allowed to eat the food.
The Issur to Eat Without a Bracha is Based on the Mitzvah to Recite the Bracha
The Emek Bracha also discusses that there is a positive command to recite a bracha, as well as an issur to eat without a bracha, but he adds that the issur may depend on the mitzvah to recite a bracha.
He points to a machlokes between Rashi and the Rif if the workers need to recite a bracha before eating. Rashi writes that the workers do not recite a bracha before eating, since it is only a rabbinical decree, and they did not require this from the workers, who are on the clock. The Rif, however, writes that the workers do need to recite a bracha before eating, because there is an issur to eat without a bracha. He explains that Rashi holds that since it is only a rabbinical decree, and they did not require this from the workers there is no issur to eat without a bracha.
Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach adds that this is why the halacha is that this is why when it comes to a question of a bracha on food, we say, “when in doubt, leave it out.” If there an issur to eat without a bracha, one should be required to recite the bracha in order to be saved from stealing. The answer is that since it is only a rabbinical decree, and in a case of doubt they did not require a person to recite a bracha, there is no issur to eat without a bracha, either.
Summary
There is a mitzvah to recite a bracha before eating, as well as an issur to eat without a bracha, but the issur may depend on the mitzvah to recite the bracha.
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Rabbi Scheiner
