DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 666 KB)
Shinui Makom – If a Person Moves From Room to Room

There is a debate among the Halachic authorities concerning the case of a person who is eating a food requiring "Boreh Nefashot" (such as a beverage, fruits, etc.) and in the middle of his meal moves from one room to another within the same house. The Shulhan Aruch rules that if the person cannot see his original location, and he did not intend to leave his original location when he began eating, then when he resumes eating he must recite a new Beracha. According to the Shulhan Aruch, moving from one room to another, from where one cannot see the first room, is no different from leaving the house, and thus if one moved to a different room while eating a "Boreh Nefashot" food, he must recite a new Beracha when he resumes eating. This is also the view of the Magen Abraham (Rabbi Abraham Gombiner, Poland, 1635-1682).

Other Halachic authorities, however, dispute this ruling, as cited and discussed by the Hafetz Haim (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933), in his Bi’ur Halacha. He notes that many Poskim do not consider changing rooms equivalent to leaving the home, including a number of Rishonim (Medieval Halachic scholars), such as Rabbenu Hananel and the Rif. The Bi’ur Halacha further observes that the situation in modern times makes it very difficult to follow the view of the Magan Abraham, requiring the recitation of a new Beracha every time one leaves the room.

In light of this debate, it is preferable when one recites a Beracha over such a food to have clear intent that he may leave the room at some point while eating, so that according to all views he would not have to recite a new Beracha when he resumes eating. If, however, one did not have this intention when he began eating, and he leaves the room while eating, he does not then have to recite a new Beracha, as we apply the rule of "Sefak Berachot Le’hakel" (we do not recite a Beracha in situations of Halachic uncertainty). This is the ruling of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Halichot Olam (vol. 2, p. 39).

Summary: It is preferable when one recites the Beracha before eating a food requiring "Boreh Nefashot" (such as drinks or fruits) to have in mind that he might leave his room and go to a different room while eating. But even if one did not have this intention, and he changes locations or leaves temporarily while eating, he does not recite a new Beracha when he resumes eating.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Is There a Requirement Nowadays to Give Portions of a Slaughtered Animal to a Kohen?
Showing Respect to a Kohen
Lighting a Candle in Memory of the Deceased
Reciting She’hehiyanu Upon Seeing a Friend or Loved One for the First Time in 30 Days
Can a Minor be Counted as the Tenth Person for a Minyan?
Saying the Name of a City That is Named After a Pagan Deity
Does One Recite a Beracha When Seeing the President of the United States?
The Disqualification of a Kohen Who Accidentally Kills
Reciting Tikkun Hasot in the Afternoon During the Three Weeks, and Every Night
Sources of the Concept of Gematria
Does a Minor Recite Birkat Ha’gomel?
Praying at the Graves of the Righteous
The Prohibition Against Taking A Short Cut Through a Synagogue
Eating a Special Meal on Rosh Hodesh
Reciting “Va’ani Tefilati” and “Mizmor Shir” When Praying Minha Privately on Shabbat Afternoon
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found