Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection

You're listening to Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of TORCH in Houston, Texas. This is the Everyday Judaism Podcast. Good morning, everybody. Welcome back to the Everyday Judaism Podcast. It is so wonderful to be here today. We are learning Simmon Mem Aleph, the 41st chapter in the Kitz HaShochan Oruch, in the abridged code of Jewish law. We are today going to discuss B'tzias HaPas, Uberchas Hamotzi. We're talking about breaking bread and the blessing of Hamotzi that precedes eating bread.
Now, we need to talk about something before we introduce, as an introduction to this chapter, we need to just clarify. What is bread? Bread is something, is any of the five grains that have water added into the ingredients. Okay, so if you have wheat, barley, spelt, oats, or rye that have water included in them, specifically water, and it has a bread-like consistency, that is bread. Now, pretzels are also made from flour and water, but it's not bread. It's not the same consistency.
That's called pas haba b'kisnin, which is, let's call it snack. It's a snack. Rice cakes are not bread. They're a snack, even though they're made with rice, which is not one of them anyway, but it's made with whatever, any type of food. Like, so you even have, there's a big discussion whether or not tortillas are, flour tortillas, right, are made out of flour and water. Is that bread? It's not really bread. I would call that more a snack. It doesn't look like bread.
It doesn't feel like bread. It doesn't taste like bread. So you can have things that are made of flour and water and are still not falling into the category of bread. So the blessing you would make on those things, cake, right, cake is also flour and water, but it's still not bread. It's cake. It's a snack. So therefore, we have to distinguish between those two. We're going to have an entire chapter discussing what falls into what category,
but right now when we're talking about bread, we're talking about actual bread. You go to the store and you find kosher bread, okay? Make sure it's kosher. We spoke about this previously, but making sure it was baked by a Jew. So we have bread. What blessing do we recite on the bread before we eat it? We recite the blessing of hamotzi lechem min haaretz, okay? So now we're going to, this seminar is going to talk all about the idea of breaking bread
and the blessing that precedes it. Al lechem gomer, upon actual bread, which is how the halacha here refers to it, actual bread, versus what we mentioned, pasababek kisnin, which is also the same ingredients, but it's not actually bread. By the way, Danishes are also falling into that category of being a snack. Nobody eats a Danish as bread. A Danish is a snack. It's a treat. Okay. So al lechem gomer, upon actual bread, shehu mechamesh esminek dagan, which is made from the five species of grain,
mevorchim lefanav hamotzi, one recites before eating it, the blessing of hamotzi. V'al aachar of birkat hamazan, and after you're done eating, you recite the blessing of birkat hamazan, the grace after meals. V'din pasababek kisnin, yevor b'simen memches, and when we get to chapter 48, we're now 41, but when we get to chapter 48, we will discuss all of these that we mentioned, the pasababek kisnin, the snack-type breads. Halacha number two, yesh lizar, it is proper to use caution, shelo lehavsik benetil sidaim lamotzi,
not to take a break or an interruption between washing our hands, which we previously mentioned, before you eat bread, you need to wash your hands appropriately, twice on each hand, between washing, reciting the am litilat yadaim, and reciting the blessing on the bread, there shouldn't be any interruption. Aval muto lo lanas amein, however, one is permitted to answer amein, al eize brochash u'shameon, any blessing that he hears, v'sheh u'shehiyo k'dei hilu chof b'ezama, and the delay between drying one's hands
and reciting the hamotzi should be less than it takes to walk 22 amos. 22 amos is about 45 feet, so it's about 30 seconds. It shouldn't take approximately, sorry, over here he says 12 seconds. From the length of an ama, this refers even to one who remains in the same place for this amount of time. So over here he says 12 seconds, give or take a few, but generally speaking, that is why when we wash our hands at home,
the head of the household is the last one to wash, because he's the one who's going to break the bread and have everyone in mind. He should be the last to wash, so that way it's the least amount of time, because if he washed first and then waited for everybody to finish washing their hands, it would be way longer than that 12 to 30 seconds. So that way, to minimize the amount of time between washing hands and reciting the blessing,
the head of the household should be the last one to wash. Okay, and this is a custom in many homes. Or how long it would take to walk from one house to another house. Even if it's only a short walk, less than 22 amos. What is not necessary for the purpose of the meal. So you're not supposed to talk in that period of time. But after the fact, if one did interrupt during this time, we have no issue with it
and he does not need to wash again. As long as he did not engage in any activity in between, or if he did not talk extensively regarding things unrelated to the meal, then it would be considered a diversion of his attention from his hand washing. Then he would require a second washing. So let me just explain what this means. We spoke previously about washing hands before we eat. Now we're talking about, okay, now we're getting to the meal, to the actual meal.
We're actually going to recite the blessing of Hamotzi. So between washing hands and eating, we're not supposed to have any interruption that would divert our attention from the mitzvah that we're performing here. What's the mitzvah that we're performing? We're reciting a blessing on the bread. So from washing the hands till after we already took a bite into our food is one mitzvah. So now interrupting in between would be a diversion of our focus. Now, if you're talking about
part of the process of what you need, for example, you need your knife to cut your challah. So you're like, where's the knife? That is part of the mitzvah. So that wouldn't be considered an interruption. If you're looking for the salt that you're going to have a little bit on the table and dip the challah into, that as well is not considered an interruption. But if you start talking about sports and you start talking about the weather, that would be an interruption
because you're diverting the attention from the mitzvah that you're about to perform. So this is an important thing to recognize and to avoid when we are having our meals to avoid getting into such a challenge. Okay. Halachah number three. B'tzeyah b'pas. One should cut the bread b'makom hamuvcha shebo by the choicest part of the challah. Now this is different for every person. It's different for every person. Some people like the end piece of the challah.
Some people like the middle piece of the challah. Everyone likes that. But the person, M'pnei k'vod abracha because this is a show of respect for the blessing. V'hamuvchar hu hamokam hakoshes He says the choicest part is the part that is hardest or the most baked, the most well-baked part. She'sham ne'afaheta because over there it was baked most thoroughly. Kitzer now explains how to identify the part of the bread that is most well done. V'hu hamokam what is this place?
Shekeh neged ha-mizbakeyah that is opposite the place where the surface is cracked. So in breads like if you, some of the older breads, you know the place where it cracks is where it got cooked the best or baked the best. Ki b'mokam shemascha le'afos it can be concluded that this is where the bread began to bake hence the part that is most well done expands and presses inward until the surface of the opposite side of that area cracks
from the pressure of the expanding dough. Akhzoken, however, an elderly person shekosheloh le'akhol paskoshe if it's difficult for them to chew on the harder piece of the bread yivtza b'mokam harach then he can take the softer part of the bread. Now again, if for an individual they don't like that part of the bread they want a different part of the bread that's their choice as part. Umehayos ki ein la'havsik since one should not interrupt b'shihiyus ha'khituch even with an unnecessary delay
caused by cutting the bread bein be'rchas hamotzi la'akhilo between the blessing of the hamotzi and the eating of the bread therefore chotekh me'at soviv hapas ke'ein tab'as be'inin she'im yochas b'prusa yala kol ha'kikar imo so he says the proper thing to do is even before you recite the blessing of hamotzi you take a little slice of the bread you make a little slice of the bread but not too deep that if you were to hold one side of the bread
it would fall off means just a little slice she'im lo'khein choshef ke'prusa if you would cut it too deep that it would fall apart it's considered that you cut through it and now it's not a whole bread va'anan ba'inan and for the honor of the blessing we endeavor whenever possible she'ivorok b'rchas hamotzi ba'ot sha'pas sholeim we recite a blessing on a whole loaf of bread not only on a half loaf of bread okay now
just so that we understand and so that we put this into perspective when one is let's talk about one meal of the week one meal Friday night we have a meal you're supposed to have two chalos one representing shamor one representing zachor one representing the the two different commandments regarding the observance of Shabbos one is to watch and protect the Shabbos and the other is to remember the Shabbos so for these two mitzvahs we have two chalos
you don't have to open both you open one you don't need to open both you can if you like to if you want more chalos you don't need to so now what happens is like this that cutting of the chalos so what you do is the halacha says you take a little slice of the chalos don't cut it all the way yet before you recite the blessing why? because you want to minimize the amount of time it takes
from when you recite the blessing to you actually eat it so if you start the cutting it will sort of take away some of the delay of time between reciting the blessing and eating the chal now in some of the some of the knives that we have today are really really really sharp and it will be more I find at least I've seen that sometimes people are trying to find where they made that slice and just like
where did I make that slice that's taking more time it's not worth it the idea is that it shouldn't take time so therefore there are people who don't make that slice of the chalos in advance so after making that little slice you want to make sure that it's still a full loaf of bread so don't cut it that deep so you recite the blessing of Emotzi and after you conclude the blessing
now you separate that piece you cut it through and through so that the blessing is concluded on a full loaf the blessing is concluded on a full loaf similarly when cutting a loaf that is not whole do not cut off a full piece before concluding the blessing so that the blessing is applying on a bigger piece the biggest piece possible he says when cutting the bread for Shabbos meal you should not cut the loaf
at all even this initial cut until after the blessing so that the loaves be complete complete because each one representing one representing the Shammah one representing the Zohar the two different commands of observing the Shabbos so that both loaves should be whole and complete for the entire blessing during the weekday if you're making Emotzi if you're reciting the blessing on a small roll he should recite the blessing before cutting the bread
all together because there's not a significant delay in cutting or breaking bread on such a small little roll so these little rolls now so when does this apply? this applies in general you're having a meal during the week you're having a meal even one of the other meals of Shabbat where you have a bigger loaf of bread you can cut it you cut a little slice to start it recite the blessing
and then you continue cutting the challah okay halach number four lo yivtza prusa ktana a person should not cut off a small piece from the loaf because it looks like you're being miserly not a piece that's too large because you look like you're a gluttonous however this applies only when one is eating alone he says if you have many people around the table you have to give everyone a piece of the challah
that you are now breaking apart and you have to give each one a sizable amount that is that is enough of a of a kezayis so then you can cut it as you see fit so that everyone gets the size that they need when cutting bread at a Shabbos meal even if one is eating alone it is permitted for him to initially cut a piece large enough for his needs
for the entire meal this is permitted because of the honor of Shabbos to show your love for this meal on Shabbos that you want to eat a lot during this meal you love the Shabbos meal and I want to make the meal as joyful as possible how do you enjoy your meal? with a big piece of challah a big piece of bread you should take from the bread that you sliced you should eat
that bread before you eat other breads because sometimes people have other variety of breads eat from that one first and this is done to show the love since the blessing was recited upon this piece a person should be careful not to give of that bread that he just recited a blessing on to your dog to feed your animal give them a different piece but not the one you just recited the blessing on
that first piece now there is another challah which is important for us to know is that we learn in our Torah the Torah tells us to feed our animals before we feed ourselves we take care of our animals before you take care of yourself so this is this is very fundamental and a person should ensure that the animal if you have a dog you have a cat you have a hamster whatever it is
whatever animal you choose to entertain in your home make sure that you feed them before you sit down for your meal that would be inappropriate and against the Torah for one to do otherwise make sure that you're fed and then your animal is not appropriate okay so but you shouldn't give them of your first choicest piece of challah give them for them to eat what they need to eat
you recite the blessing on your hamotzi you take your food from your hamotzi and then share it with those around the table okay halacha number five kodem she yivarech before reciting the blessing yitein shtey yodav al hapas so this is an important the details of the law are really really really special unfortunately not everyone knows this but all of your ten fingers are supposed to be on the bread when you hold it
you hold the bread with your two hands all ten fingers on the bread she yesh bohen yod etzboz for the two hands have ten fingers keneged yod mitzvos et luyus pepas corresponding to the ten mitzvahs that are involved in the production of bread right losacharosh bishor v'chamor I'm going to tell you the ten laws that apply in making bread okay you should not plow with an ox and a donkey together kilayim forbidden mixtures leket
gleaning shikha forgotten produce peya the edge each one of these we can explain losachsom you shall not muzzle an ox in its threshing turuma maaseh rishon the first tithe the turuma maaseh sheni the second tithe and then chalot the separation of chalot each one of these is a mitzvah and putting our ten fingers on the chalot when we recite the blessing is representing the ten mitzvahs that we perform
in the production of of making bread lochen therefore yesh yod tevos b'birchas hamotzi for this reason also we have ten words in the blessing of hamotzi baruch ata hashem elokeinu melech haolam hamotzi lechem min haaretz also for that ten to represent these ten mitzvahs that apply with the bread v'yod tevos hapasuk and the ten words of the verse ei nechol eyleche yisaberu va'atanos halam esacholam bi'ito the eyes of all look to you with hope
and you give them their food in their proper time is also ten words in that verse as well eretz chito se'ora the land of wheat barley, grape, fig, and pomegranate the land of oil, olives and date honey is also ten words in the Hebrew verse v'yod tevos hapasuk as well v'yitin lechol hakim mital ha'shamayim mishmani haaretz where God tells Jacob and may God give you the dew of the heavens
and of the fatness of the earth and abundant grain and wine this is also a blessing that was given to Abraham v'kishiyom ha'shashem and when a person recites the name of Hashem in the blessing ya'agbi ya'salechem you should pick up the bread so you say baruch ata Hashem elokeinu melech haolam hamotzi lechem enartz okay u'b'shabas ya'agbi ya'shteyn on a Shabbos you elevate both loaves together when you recite the name of Hashem v'yivorach mechavon
a person should have concentration when he recites v'yidaktik lehotzi heytev to be meticulous in his pronunciation es ha'hey shal hamotzi to say hamotzi not to rush it no need to rush v'yitin revach ktas and a person should pause slightly bein tevas lechem le tevas min hamotzi lechem min haaretz because lechem ends with a mem and min begins with a mem so you can sometimes do like a run-on hamotzi lechem min haaretz it's not appropriate
it should be hamotzi lechem min haaretz and not to make it into one word because again we mentioned that it's ten words intentionally it's specifically ten words and let's not make it into nine shelo le'avli ya'samem not to swallow the mem v'l'ach ha'abrocha yochal miyad and after reciting the blessing he should eat immediately ki osol hafsik because as we mentioned previously it's forbidden to make an interruption bein ha'abrocha le'tikhila sa'akhila from the reciting of the blessing
to the beginning of the eating afilu la'ani ya'samem even to answer amen we don't do that between the blessing and the eating v'yesh lechoch kazayis a person should eat a kazayis b'lo hafsik without interruption so a person shouldn't take a bite and while they're chewing talking we know the halacha says that you're not supposed to talk while you're eating anyway first is it's not polite it's not nice you're talking with a full mouth like
blah blah blah blah a person stuffing his his mouth with food and talking it's not so polite that's number one but number two the halacha says it's dangerous you're not b'ein m'sich and m'shas ha'soud you're not supposed to talk while you're eating you can choke on your food and it's dangerous don't do it okay so it's not only to be polite it's not polite because it's against the halacha that's why okay
and we know why it's not polite now the halacha continues v'l'achar ha'broch yochal mi'ad okay so that we said halacha number six mitzvah l'havi ala shulchan melach it is a special mitzvah to have salt on the table kodem sh'yivtza before breaking bread v'yitvel prusas hamotzi v'lechem and you should dip the piece of bread into the salt lefisha ha'shul kadomu lemezbeach because the table that we eat from
is like the mezbeach like the altar in the temple v'achiru lekarbon and the eating around the table is like the sacrifices that were offered on the altar sh'nemar alkarbonekha tikrav melach takrev melach as it says in the verse in Leviticus of your every offering shall you offer salt okay on every offering they brought salt why salt? lefisha ha'shul kadomu lemezbeach and since our table is like the altar tov lizor
it is proper to take care shelo la ragolov kino to not kill a lice a louse on it so if you have why? because you're going to be eating from food that's on the table make sure the table is clean okay why do we put salt? our sages tell us why is salt so important on the offerings as well so salt is a preservative our sages tell us that this represents
the preserved relationship of the Jewish people with the almighty that's one number two is that our sages the kabbalistic sages tell us that when we recite a blessing over the bread the evil forces come and want to attack us and make us have take away our health and they want to damage us they want to hurt us but what takes away their powers salt you should always have salt on your table
always have salt on your table on the actual table if you have a tablecloth on the tablecloth that's considered the table so salt is a very essential component of our meal not that you have salt in the bread that's not enough you should dip it into the salt make sure you always have salt on the table halacha number seven im mechalik prusos hamotzi laham subin if a person this is very interesting
because there are so many different customs regarding this if you have other people sitting around the table and now you're distributing the challah around the table to everyone lo yizrakon don't throw the pieces of challah to the people now there are people there are customs that they intentionally throw the challah he'll probably mention that the uslizrak is a pass because bread is such a honored food such a respectable food it would be
a lack a lack of respect for you to throw it v'gam lo yitnel otokh yadon but you shouldn't either put it directly into someone's hand that's why you put it onto a plate and you pass the plate you don't actually give elo yanichel a fun of but you should place it in front of the person because it says it is proper to avoid placing the bread in his hand since it is the custom
to place the bread into the hand of the mourner and we don't want to we don't want that same symbolism of putting bread into the hand of a mourner as us there's many many laws that we observe because of things that are done either for dead people or for in the ritual purification of someone who is deceased we have the Hever Kadisha which is the burial society
they prepare the body with dignity into shrouds but before they do that they wash the body which is why if anyone is familiar there is an age old custom that you don't pour a drink backwards you don't pour a drink backwards you only pour it forwards why? because when they pour the water over the deceased so you have one person pouring warm water to clean the body and one person
cleaning so in the inevitable someone is going to be pouring the water backwards because you're standing on one side is the person pouring and one person is the side cleaning so you're going to be pouring it like that you don't want to pour your drink the way you pour water on a deceased now there are people like oh you poured it backwards throw it out there is no reason why you should do it the same way you do it ...