DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 652 KB)
If One Remembers That He Forgot to Make a Beracha While Drinking

The Rishonim (Early authorities) discuss what to do if one took a sip of a beverage and before swallowing, remembers that he forgot to make a Beracha. They concur that he may not make a Beracha with his mouth full, yet they allow him to swallow the beverage, as spitting it out would ruin it.

The Poskim disagree as to what he should do after he swallows it. According to Rashi and Rabbenu Hannanel, after he swallows it, there is nothing more to do; he has missed the Beracha. On the other hand, the Rosh holds that he can still make a Beracha of Shehakol on the swallowed beverage retroactively. This is a rare case, in which there is an opinion that one can make a Beracha on a food "after the fact."

The Shulhan Aruch rules in accordance with Rashi and Rabbenu Hannanel that one does not make a Beracha after he swallows. The Rema rules in accordance with the Rosh. The Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) points out that the accepted practice of Ashkenazim is to follow Maran, and not the Rema.

Hacham Ovadia presents a Chidush (novel approach) as to what to do when the beverage is still in his mouth. He rules one may "think" the Beracha, without verbalizing it. Although, in general, "Hirhur" (thinking) is not tantamount to speaking, in this case there is no choice. Hacham Ovadia goes so far as to say that, based on that Beracha, he is allowed to continue drinking more beverages, without verbally articulating an additional Beracha.

SUMMARY
If one forgot to say a Beracha on a beverage, he cannot verbally recite it, while the liquid is in his mouth. He may "think" the words of the Beracha, and that would not only exempt the liquid in his mouth, but it would also cover any additional beverages he wants to drink.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Beracha Over Puffed Wheat and Granola Bars
Situations When One Does Not Recite a Beracha Before Drinking Water
Does One Recite “Ha’mosi” over Sweet Bread, or over So-Called “Mezonot Rolls”?
What Beracha Does One Recite on Pita Chips?
Which Beracha Does One Recite Over Pizza or Calzone?
What Must the Third Person Eat for Three People to Make a Zimun?
Reciting a Zimun if a Third Person Arrives After the First Two Finished Eating
Making a Zimun in a Moving Vehicle, Boat or Plane
Zimun If Ten People Ate Together But Not All of Them Ate Bread
Insight Into the Text of the Zimun
Can Three People Make a Zimun if One of Them Did Not Eat Bread?
Can a Minor be Counted Toward a Zimun?
Zimun in a Yeshiva Cafeteria
The Beracha Recited Over Chocolate Bars with Nuts, and Over Coated Almonds
Berachot If One Falls Asleep During A Meal
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found