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...
Counting a Minor Towards a Minyan
The Earliest Time for Wearing a Talit With a Beracha
Is the Haftara Recited With Berachot if the Congregation’s Only Sefer Torah is Found to be Pasul?
The Status of a Relative Through Marriage With Respect to Testimony
If a Witness is Related to a Litigant or to Another Witness
Birkat Kohanim – If One Recites the Amida During Birkat Kohanim; The Kohanim’s Prayers Before and After Birkat Kohanim
Reading Tehillim or Other Parts of Tanach at Night
Some Laws of Tzedaka (Charity)
Interlocking the Fingers of the Right Hand with the Fingers of the Left Hand
Removing One’s Shoes Before Going to Sleep
Learning Torah Out Loud
Saying 'Yihee Ratzon ... SheTivne (Build) Bet HaMikdash' At The End Of The Amidah After Taking 3 Steps Back
Is it Forbidden for a Kohen to be in the Same Room as Ashes of a Dead Body?
If Fewer Than Six Men at a Minyan at Minha is Not Fasting on a Fast Day
Sleeping on Clothing Can Adversely Affect One’s Memory
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found