One who eats one ounce or more of grain products, such as cake, must recite the Beracha of "Al Ha’mihya." We find in different Siddurim two versions of the conclusion of this Beracha. In some versions, the Beracha concludes, "Baruch Ata Hashem Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Ha’mihya," whereas in others, the conclusion appears as "Baruch Ata Hashem Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Ha’mihya Ve’al Ha’kalkala." Meaning, the second version adds the phrase "Ve’al Ha’kalkala," while the first includes only "Al Ha’mihya," without "Ve’al Ha’kalkala." Which of these two versions is the more proper text to use when reciting the Beracha of "Al Ha’mihya"?
The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in Parashat Maseh, indicates that the proper version is the lengthier text that includes "Ve’al Ha’kalkala." He writes that if one eats Mezonot products made from grain grown in Eretz Yisrael, he should conclude the Beracha, "Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Miihyetah Ve’al Kalkelatah." In his view, one should end the Beracha with the phrase "Ve’al Ha’kalkala," and in the case of grain grown in Israel, one should modify the phrase to "Ve’al Kalkelatah."
From the rulings of the Shulhan Aruch, however, it appears that he accepted the shorter text, of "Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Ha’mihya," without the words "Ve’al Ha’kalkala." The Hesed La’alafim (Rav Eliezer Papo, 1770-1828) explained this ruling based on the Halachic principle that the conclusion of a Beracha should mention only a single topic, and not multiple topics. The term "Mihya," the Hesed La’alafim writes, refers to food, whereas "Kalkala" means money, general material assets, and not specifically food. Therefore, he claimed, including both phrases – "Al Ha’mihya" and "Al Ha’kalkala" – in the conclusion of this Beracha would violate the rule allowing only one subject in a Beracha’s conclusion.
One could debate the Hesed La’alafim’s claim that the term "Kalkala" refers to money, but nevertheless, it appears that the accepted custom is to recite the briefer text of "Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Ha’mihya," and to omit the phrase "Ve’al Ha’kalkala." Indeed, I consulted with Hacham Baruch Ben Haim zt"l on this subject, and he informed me that the correct text is "Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Ha’mihya."
Of course, the phrase "Ve’al Ha’kalkala" is mentioned earlier in the Beracha, both at the beginning, when we say "Baruch Ata Hashem…Al Ha’mihya Ve’al Ha’kalkala Ve’al Tenubat Ha’sadeh," and toward the end, when we recite, "Ve’nodeh Lecha…Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Ha’mihya Ve’al Ha’kalkala."
Summary: When concluding the Beracha of Al Ha’mihya, it is more correct to recite "Baruch Ata Hashem Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Hamihya," rather than the longer version of "Baruch Ata Hashem Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Hamihya Ve’al Ha’kalaka."
