Rabbi Chayim Palachi (Turkey, 19th century), in his work Kaf Ha'chayim (24:58), cites a basic rule of mealtime etiquette in the name of Sefer Ha'chasidim (by Rabbi Yehuda Ha'chasid, Germany, 1150-1217), Siman 829. Namely, a person must ensure not to allow young children to take food from serving bowls and platters. Since young children are generally not careful about keeping their hands clean, adults at the table might feel repulsed upon seeing them put their hands in the food on the table and will thus choose not to eat. (This is a particularly common problem regarding ice buckets, as children enjoy taking ice directly from the bucket, thereby dirtying the rest of the ice.)
The Kaf Ha'chayim then develops another idea relevant to mealtime, regarding the importance of reciting Berachot. He cites a comment in the Torah commentary of the Shach (Parashat Eikev) that when the Torah warns in the "curses" section that Benei Yisrael will be punished with "worms" ("Ki Tochelenu Ha'tola'at" Devarim 28:39), it refers to the decomposition of the body after death. Hence, by ensuring to reciting a Beracha, which represents the opposite of Kelala (curse), a person saves himself from this punishment of decomposition after death, and his body will not be overcome by worms in the grave. In this vein, some scholars suggested explaining the verse, "
to place blessing inside your home" ("Le'hani'ach Beracha El Toch Beitecha" Yechezkel 44:30). A person's most permanent "home" is his eternal resting place, his grave, and thus this verse perhaps alludes to the positive effects of "blessing" reciting Berachot upon one's condition in the grave. Furthermore, it has been noted that the word "Beracha" has the same numerical value as the word "Keruz," or "announcement," alluding to the fact that when a person is careful with regard to the recitation of Berachot, an announcement is made in the heavens that he should be spared all harm.
Summary: One must ensure not to allow young children to take food from serving plates and bowls at the table. A person must exercise particular care with regard to the recitation of Berachot, as this Mitzva will save him from harm both in this world and after his passing.
