In a previous edition of Daily Halacha, we discussed the situation of ten people who ate a meal together, nine of whom ate bread, whereas the tenth ate other foods or drank. The Halacha in this case, as established in the Gemara and Shulhan Aruch, is that the ten men may recite a Zimun with Hashem’s Name ("Nebarech L’Elokenu She’achalnu Mi’shelo"). Even though only nine people ate bread, the tenth can count toward the Minyan if he ate a Ke’zayit of other food, or drank a Rebi’it of a beverage other than water. (Since water does not provide any nourishment, its consumption does not suffice for one to be included in the meal.) Thus, for example, if nine men ate bread, and a tenth who was with them ate a Ke’zayit of vegetables, such as a salad, or ate "Mezonot" food, and even if he just drank a Rebi’it of juice or wine, they may recite a Zimun with "Elokenu."
The question arises as to whether this Halacha would apply if fewer than nine of the ten men ate bread. Suppose only eight, seven or six men ate bread, and the rest ate other foods or just drank. Does the group recite a Zimun with "Elokenu," or is this allowed only if just one person did not eat bread?
The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 197:2; listen to audio recording for precise citation) writes that a group of ten may recite the Zimun with "Elokenu" as long as at least seven men in the group ate bread, and the rest ate or drank something other than water. Zimun differs in this respect from Kaddish, which a group of ten people may recite even if only six – the majority of a Minyan – are responding. When it comes to Zimun with "Elokenu," the Shulhan Aruch explains, Halacha requires that a recognizable majority had eaten bread. This is defined as seven people, and thus if six or fewer people in the group ate bread, "Elokenu" is not recited in the Zimun. But if at least seven people ate bread, "Elokenu" is recited, provided that the other three either ate a Ke’zayit of a different food or drank a Rebi’it of a beverage other than water.
It should be noted that, as the Shulhan Aruch rules, only a person who ate bread may lead the Zimun. In cases when fewer than ten people at bread but the Zimun is recited with "Elokenu," the person who leads the Zimun must have eaten bread.
Summary: If ten people ate together, they recite a Zimun with "Elokenu" if at least seven of them ate bread, and all the rest either ate a Ke’zayit of other food or drank at least a Rebi’it of a beverage other than water. The one who leads the Zimun, however, must have eaten bread.
