We are continuing our study of practical Jewish law, drawing from the teachings of Bikim B'alacha, Volume 7, which is dedicated in memory of Dan Ya'koel. Today, on day 39, we are on page 85, discussing scenarios where individuals place food or drink in their mouths without first reciting a blessing.
Let's begin with the most challenging case: a person who puts liquid into their mouth without a blessing. We previously discussed a three-way dispute on this matter. The most striking opinion, attributed to the Rosh, suggests swallowing the liquid and then making a blessing retroactively. However, the Sheyarei Keneset HaGedolah disagreed, stating that one must swallow the liquid because spitting it out would constitute waste. Furthermore, one cannot make a blessing with a mouth full of liquid. Therefore, the only option, according to the Sheyarei Keneset HaGedolah, is to swallow and make a mental blessing, a "hirhur." This mental blessing should ideally be made before swallowing, to at least have the intention of the blessing. It's important to note that missing the initial blessing does not invalidate the subsequent blessing after eating or drinking; the two are unrelated.
Ben Ish Chai offered a different approach. He ruled that if someone inserts a beverage into their mouth without a blessing, they should spit it out. However, if they need to drink the beverage, they should think the words of the blessing before swallowing it. This position is more stringent than the Sheyarei Keneset HaGedolah, as it prioritizes spitting out unless there is a need to drink.
Hacham Ovadia Yosef, however, disagreed with Ben Ish Chai. He ruled that even if the person does not need the beverage, they should swallow it, similar to the Sheyarei Keneset HaGedolah. He maintained that one should think the words of the blessing and then swallow the liquid, with no option of spitting it out. If one has more liquid to drink, they can rely on the blessing made in thought and continue drinking. The general principle here is that when there is no other choice, one may think a blessing without verbalizing it. Hacham Ovadia Yosef further ruled that one should think the words of the blessing without differentiating whether spitting it out is an option or if there is more liquid available. The bottom line is to think the blessing and swallow.
Kaf Hachaim presented a nuanced view. If a person is unable to hold the beverage in their mouth long enough to think the blessing without swallowing, they should spit it out. This is to avoid the debate among the early halachic authorities and to prevent deriving pleasure from drinking without a blessing. This recommendation stands even though Maran (referring to the author of the Shulchan Aruch) ruled that it is permissible to swallow the drink. Kaf Hachaim also suggested that if possible, one could swallow the beverage first and then think the blessing, aligning with the Rosh's opinion. While we do not typically follow the Rosh's practice of reciting a blessing verbally after swallowing, in this specific case, for someone who cannot hold the liquid in their mouth, swallowing and then thinking the blessing is a valid approach, as it aligns with the Rosh's view. Hacham Ovadia Yosef also mentioned this possibility in his recommendation, allowing for a mental blessing even after the beverage has been swallowed, to cover the opinion of the Rosh. Furthermore, if there is more water available, one should make a verbal blessing over the remaining water with the intention to cover both the swallowed liquid and the subsequent drinking.
Halacha Berura ruled that if a person intends to drink more than a mouthful, it is best to swallow the initial liquid without thinking the words of the blessing. This is because they have more water in front of them, and they can then recite a verbal blessing before continuing to drink. This approach avoids the dilemma of making a mental blessing and then potentially needing to make another verbal blessing later. Thus, according to the Rosh, if you have water in your mouth and intend to drink more, simply swallow it, and then make a new verbal blessing with the intention to cover both. This is considered the optimal solution.
A unique case arises if someone is physically capable of pushing the liquid to one side of their mouth and making a blessing. For instance, a ventriloquist might possess such a skill. If only a small amount of beverage was inserted, making it possible to move it aside and recite the blessing, this would be recommended. This is similar to the ruling regarding food, where one should not spit it out if it would be ruined, but rather move it aside. However, this depends on a dispute between the Sheyarei Keneset HaGedolah and Rabbeinu Hananel. The Sheyarei Keneset HaGedolah explained that one may swallow the liquid without a blessing if it's impossible to recite it with the liquid in the mouth. This implies that if it is possible to move the liquid aside, one should do so. Rabbeinu Hananel, however, held that once liquid is in the mouth, it is no longer considered a beverage, and therefore no blessing is required. This is because a beverage, once mixed with saliva, loses its original form and status. In practice, we follow the principle of Safek Berachot Lehakel (leniency in cases of doubt regarding blessings), meaning if there's a doubt, we do not make a blessing. Therefore, if one cannot move the water to the side of their mouth, they should not make a blessing.
The same principles apply if a person puts food into their mouth without a blessing. If the food would not become disgusting by being removed from the mouth (e.g., a piece of candy), it is better to remove it, make the blessing, and then put it back in. One's mouth should be empty when reciting a blessing, as the verse states, "My mouth should be filled with Your praises." If the food cannot be removed without being ruined or wasted (e.g., a piece of cake that would crumble), then one should push it to the side of the mouth, make the blessing, and then eat it. This prevents "Ibud Ochlin," the waste of food. This ruling applies even if one would not mind spitting it out and eating it again, as the concern extends to how others might perceive such an action.
There are views that one who makes a mistake and forgets a blessing should simply repent. However, Hacham Ovadia Yosef emphasized the importance of avoiding the desecration of God's name. If one is in the company of others who would be disgusted by seeing them spit out food, it is better to swallow the food without a blessing. This is because causing others to view religious people as uncivilized would constitute a desecration of God's name, which is a more severe concern. This applies even if the individual themselves would not mind spitting out the food. The ways of the Torah are meant to be understood and respected. This instruction applies when one is alone or with people who understand halacha. However, in public settings, particularly with guests who may not understand the nuances of Jewish law, one must be mindful of their actions. Hacham Ovadia Yosef cited the example of eating matzah on Passover: while some authorities hold that one should fill their mouth with matzah, he argued against this practice, especially when dining with guests, to avoid causing a desecration of God's name through unseemly behavior. The same principle applies to all areas of Jewish law.