DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 1.19 MB)
Leaving Leftover Bread on the Table for Birkat Ha’mazon

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 180:1) writes that it is not proper to recite Birkat Ha’mazon at an empty table, and one should therefore leave the leftover bread, and crumbs, on the table for the recitation of Birkat Ha’mazon. If all the bread was finished, one should not bring another full loaf to the table, as this was the practice of the pagans. If one has a partial loaf of bread, it may be brought to the table for Birkat Ha’mazon. A complete loaf that had been on the table during the meal may be left on the table for Birkat Ha’mazon.

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) writes (in Parashat Shelah) that it is customary also to leave the bones, shells and peels on the table for Birkat Ha’mazon. These oftentimes have "Nisosot Kedusha" (sparks of holiness) within them, and reciting Birkat Ha’mazon with these on the table can have the effect of extracting the sparks. If one finds it uncomely to leave these things on the table, he may collect them onto a plate and move them to the side, but they should be left on the table.

Summary: It is proper to leave leftover bread on the table for Birkat Ha’mazon. If all the bread was eaten, one should not bring a new, complete loaf for Birkat Ha’mazon, but one may bring a new piece of bread. It is also proper to leave on the table bones, shells and peels for Birkat Ha’mazon.


 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Is It Appropriate To Invite A Rabbi To Put Up A Mezuza In A New House
Shoud The Beracha On Tefilin Be Repeated When Putting It On Again The Same Day
Is One Required to Make a New Beracha On a Mezuza That Fell Off?
Does One Recite “Shehehiyanu” the First Time He Wears Tefillin?
Positioning the Tefillin Shel Rosh
Positioning the Tefillin Shel Yad
Reciting “Kadesh Li” and “Ve’haya Ki Yebi’acha” After Donning the Tefillin
Removing, Holding, and Respecting Tefillin
Must One Don Tefilin before Reciting Shema in the Korbanot?
Touching the Tefillin While Wearing Them; the Procedure for Repositioning, Removing and Handling Tefillin
Writing Tefillin With One’s Right Hand
Where Should a Mezuzah be Placed on a High Doorpost?
Wearing Tefillin After Sunset
Is it Permissible for a Woman to Wear Tefillin?
May a Sepharadi Wear Ashkenazi Tefillin?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found