A person who eats a Ke'zayit of one of the special fruits of Eretz Yisrael (grapes, dates, olives, figs and pomegranates) is required by Halacha to recite the Beracha of "Al Ha'etz Ve'al Peri Ha'etz." If one partook of a Ke'zayit of other fruits, or of vegetables, he recites the Beracha of "Bore Nefashot." If a person partook of a Ke'zayit of both groups, meaning, he ate both a Ke'zayit of special fruits as well as a Ke'zayit of other fruits or vegetables, in what sequence should he recite the two Berachot? Should he first recite the Beracha of "Al Ha'etz," or should he first recite "Bore Nefashot" and only then recite "Al Ha'etz"?
Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Yabia Omer (vol. 9, p. 247), rules that in such a case one must first recite "Bore Nefashot" over the other fruits or vegetables, and thereafter recite "Al Ha'etz" over the special fruits of Eretz Yisrael. He explains that in the Beracha of "Al Ha'etz" we thank the Almighty for "Tenuvat Ha'sadeh" – "the produce of the field" – a term which clearly includes all fruits and vegetables. Hence, reciting this Beracha covers all fruits and vegetables of which one had partaken, such that he is now no longer able to recite "Bore Nefashot." Since the recitation of "Al Ha'etz" covered all the foods he had eaten – both the special fruits of Israel and the other fruits and vegetables – he can no longer recite "Bore Nefashot." Hacham Ovadia therefore rules that one should first recite "Bore Nefashot" and only thereafter recite "Al Ha'etz." And, as mentioned, if a person mistakenly first recited "Al Ha'etz," he may no longer recite "Bore Nefashot," since the Beracha of "Al Ha'etz" covers all fruits and vegetables.
It should be emphasized that this Halacha refers only to a case of a person who ate one of the special fruits of Eretz Yisrael as well as another food that originates from the ground. In such a case, the recitation of "Al Ha'etz" would cover even the other fruit or vegetable. If, however, a person partook of one of the special fruits of Israel as well as a different "She'hakol" product, such as meat, eggs or a drink, then this Halacha certainly does not apply. Since these products do not grow from the ground, they are not included in the term, "Tenuvat Ha'sadeh," and therefore they are not covered by the recitation of "Al Ha'etz."
Summary: If a person ate a fruit requiring the recitation of "Al Ha'etz" (such as a grape or fig), and also ate a different fruit of vegetable, which requires him to recite "Bore Nefashot," he must first recite "Bore Nefashot" before reciting "Al Ha'etz." If he mistakenly recited "Al Ha'etz" first, he does not then recite "Bore Nefashot." If, however, a person ate a fruit requiring "Al Ha'etz" and a food that does not originate from the ground – such as meat – then he may recite "Al Ha'etz" before reciting the Beracha of "Bore Nefashot."
