Making Brachos in Middle of a Meal

This month we will discuss the Halachos of the brocha of Hamotzi at the seudah. As is well known, when one recites Hamotzi at the meal, one is not required to recite brochos on the other items at the meal. For example, when we recite Hamotzi at the Seudas Shabbos, we are not required to recite an additional shehakol on the fish or ho'dama on the salad. The rationale for this is that we view the various courses as "tafel" (secondary) to the "ikur" (primary) bread.

There are various exceptions to this rule. The following are cases when one must recite a brocha rishona, even though one recited Hamotzi and is still "in the middle of the meal." However, one need not recite a brocha achrona, as birchas hamazon covers everything.

1) Wine: If one drinks wine or grape juice in the middle of a meal, one must recite borei pri hagafen, unless the person drank wine or grape juice immediately prior to the meal. For example, if a person is at a wedding and drinks wine during the meal, a borei pri hagafen must be recited. Similarly, on Shabbos, if a person did not drink from kiddush before the meal, a borei pri hagafen must be recited when drinking wine or grape juice during the meal. However, if a person drank from kiddush immediately before the meal (even a small amount), it is not necessary to recite a borei pri hagafen when drinking wine or grape juice during the meal.

2) Items not usually eaten during the meal: If someone eats food generally not eaten during a meal, one must recite a bracha on the food. Examples include candy, ice cream, and raw fruit. These items are typically not served during a meal (only for dessert) and therefore require a brocha rishona when eaten during the meal.

3) Dessert: Our custom is not to consider dessert as part of the meal.Therefore, one should recite a bracha rishona before eating dessert. The exception to this is "pas habaa b'kisnin," which is when a person eats cake or cookies for dessert, in which case a bracha rishona is not required. However, if
one eats fruit (hoadama or hoetz), ices, or even "Rice Krispie treats" (non-pas habaa b'kisnin mezonos) a bracha rishona is required.

The following are examples when a bracha rishona is not required when eating fruit in the middle of the meal:

a. When eating an Appetizer: For example, if one eats grapefruit at the beginning of the meal (after making hamotzi and eating bread), a bracha rishona is not required.

b. Cooked Fruit (that is not a "dessert style" fruit): For example, if one eats cranberry sauce during a meal, a bracha rishona is not required as this is a cooked fruit.