DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 450 KB)
Berachot If One Falls Asleep During A Meal

A question was asked in Halacha regarding one who falls asleep while eating at his table. This occurs sometimes on a Friday night when one is sitting at his table and the meal is lasting a long time. So he either closes his eyes at the table or moves to the sofa to take a little nap. When he wakes up and wants to continue the meal, does one have to make new Berachot in order to start eating again?

The question is brought down if the sleeping is considered a break in the action. One who closes his eyes at the table and just leans back on his chair and sleeps a little is not considered to have made a break in the action, since this is a temporary type of sleeping. Therefore when he wakes up, he can continue to eat without making new Berachot.

However, once a person goes to lie down, on a sofa, a couch, or certainly a bed, even for a short amount of time, even if the sofa is in the same room, that is considered a break in the action. This is so, even if there were people left at the table and he had the intention of returning to continue the meal. In this case, if one got up from his nap and wanted to come back to the table to resume eating, he would have to wash Netilat Yadayim, make HaMotzih and then make Birkat Hamazon. If one didn’t want to resume eating however, he would just come back to the table and make Birkat Hamazon.

We see from this Halacha that one must take caution in a situation if he wants to get up and take a break from the meal and take a nap on a sofa or bed. Even if people are left at the table, or the couch is in the same room, it is considered a break in the action and the Berachot must be recited again.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Shabbat – Ensuring That the Countertop is Dry Before Putting Down a Hot Pot
Reheating Solid Food With Some Liquid on Shabbat
Is it Permissible to Eat Soup That Was Reheated on Shabbat?
Placing Cold Liquid Near the Stove on Shabbat
Placing a Raw Food Next to a Hot Food on a Plate on Shabbat
Can A Man or Woman Eat or Drink Prior To Kiddush On Shabbat Morning
Asking a Gentile to Write on One’s Behalf on Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Take Vitamins On Shabbat
Tying Knots on Shabbat-Basic Understandings of Restrictions and Permissions
Is It Permissible To Trap Pets in the House on Shabbat?
Is It Permissible To Eat A Meal Just Prior To Shabbat
Is It Permissible to Lace Shoes on Shabbat?
Is It Permissible to Set Up a Mousetrap on Shabbat?
May One Move a Garment on Shabbat if There is Money in the Pocket?
Is It Permissible To Cover A Pot with its Cover or Tin Foil or Other on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found