DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 542 KB)
Shinui Makom – Eating While Walking

If a person is eating while walking in the street – such as if one sucks on a candy, chews gum, or eats nuts as he walks – it is clear that he does not have to recite a new Beracha every time he walks. Quite obviously, he has in mind at the time he recites the Beracha that he would change locations as he eats, and so he certainly does not need to recite a new Beracha as he walks.

This also applies to a person who begins eating or drinking at home but it is clear at the time he recited the Beracha that he plans to take the food or beverage with him. For example, if a person makes himself a cup of coffee as he is getting his coat and car keys, preparing to leave for work, and he recites the Beracha over the coffee at home before he leaves, he does not have to recite a new Beracha outside in the car. Since it is obvious that he plans on taking the coffee with him outside, he does not recite a new Beracha after he leaves.

If, however, a person eats at home, at the table, and then he suddenly realizes he needs to leave, so he takes his food or coffee with him, then he must recite a new Beracha when he resumes eating outside. In this case, his original intention was to eat at home, and he then decided to bring his food outside, and so he must recite a new Beracha. This is the ruling of Hacham Bension Abba Shaul (Israel, 1923-1998), in Or Le’sion (vol. 2, p. 105), and of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, as recorded in Yalkut Yosef (p. 94; listen to audio recording for precise citation).

Summary: A person who eats as he walks does not recite a new Beracha each time he takes a bite, because his original intent was to move locations as he eats. Similarly, if one began eating or drinking at home but it was obvious he was planning to take the food or drink with him, such as if one takes coffee with him on the way to work but begins sipping the coffee at home, he does not recite a new Beracha after he leaves the house.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
If a Candle Falls on the Table During Shabbat
May One Ask a Non-Jew to Light the Shabbat Candles After Shabbat Has Started?
Using Olive Oil and Wax Candles for the Shabbat Candle Lighting
Making a Verbal Declaration When Preparing for Shabbat
Covering the Bread on the Table on Shabbat and Yom Tob
Must One Eat Bread at Seudah Shlishit?
Must the Halla be on the Table During Kiddush?
Adding Aliyot on Shabbat
The Requirement to Eat Bread at Se’uda Shelishit
Until When Can One Recite “Asher Natan Shabbatot Li’mnuha” in Lieu of “Reseh” in Birkat Ha’mazon?
Shabbat – Practicing Penmanship in the Air; Observing a Mechanic
Having Children Perform Melacha on Shabbat; Halachot of Children During the Nine Days and Hol Ha’mo’ed
Leniencies That Apply During Ben Ha’shemashot at the Beginning and End of Shabbat
Separating Pages in a Book That are Attached
Annulling Vows on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found