I would like to demystify and clarify a very confusion halacha that comes about almost daily, and that is the issue of eating fruit during a meal.
The Gemara in Berachos (41b) writes that any food eaten in the course of a bread meal does not require a bracha, provided the food is for the meal. However, food eaten during a bread meal, that is not eaten for the meal, does require its own beracha, even though you already made a Hamotzi on the bread.
The issue that is raised and highly debated is how do we define if a certain food item is "for the meal" or "not for the meal." Rashi learns "for the meal" as any food eaten with bread. Thus, one would be required to make a separate bracha on every food item at the table not eaten with the bread (chulent, kugel, salad, etc.)
Tosfos, as explained by Rabbenu Yona, argues and defines "for the meal" as meal type foods. Meaning, any food normally eaten in the context of a meal is exempt from a beracha if one already made a Hamotzi on bread. However, food which is not normally eaten as a meal type food ("snack foods") would require a beracha if eaten in a bread meal, even though you already made a Hamotzi on the bread.
While this Tosfos explains why we don't make separate berachas on chulent, salad, and kugel, the big issue that is discussed is what about fruit. Fruit, generally, is characterised as a "snack type food" and thus might require a beracha even if eaten during a bread meal.
In order to clarify when fruit does and does not require a bracha we can analyze the following three cases:
1. Fruit eaten as the main course- When eating fruit as the main course, you effectively turn the fruit from a snack-type food, to a meal-type food and no beracha is required (provided you already said Homotzi).
2. Fruit eaten as one of the courses- Since you are eating other courses, the fruit can not be called the meal-food and thus retains its status as snack-type and would require a beracha, even if you already said Hamotzi.
3. Fruit eaten to whet your appetite- Apparently Chazal felt that certain fruits (grapefruit is the big discussion) increase your appetite for other food items (I would love to know if this is proven scientifically), and thus are considered secondary to the meal and thus no berachas are required.
To conclude, it would seem that most of the time fruit is served in a meal, it is served in a case 2 scenario, where it is just one of the courses, and thus would require its own beracha. Fruit served for dessert for sure requires its own beracha, as it is definitely a snack food.
So an apple a day, not only keeps the doctor away, it provided another opportunity to thank Hashem for His kindness.
(Next week i'yh we will discuss if a beracha is required on Mezonos desserts)
The Gemara in Berachos (41b) writes that any food eaten in the course of a bread meal does not require a bracha, provided the food is for the meal. However, food eaten during a bread meal, that is not eaten for the meal, does require its own beracha, even though you already made a Hamotzi on the bread.
The issue that is raised and highly debated is how do we define if a certain food item is "for the meal" or "not for the meal." Rashi learns "for the meal" as any food eaten with bread. Thus, one would be required to make a separate bracha on every food item at the table not eaten with the bread (chulent, kugel, salad, etc.)
Tosfos, as explained by Rabbenu Yona, argues and defines "for the meal" as meal type foods. Meaning, any food normally eaten in the context of a meal is exempt from a beracha if one already made a Hamotzi on bread. However, food which is not normally eaten as a meal type food ("snack foods") would require a beracha if eaten in a bread meal, even though you already made a Hamotzi on the bread.
While this Tosfos explains why we don't make separate berachas on chulent, salad, and kugel, the big issue that is discussed is what about fruit. Fruit, generally, is characterised as a "snack type food" and thus might require a beracha even if eaten during a bread meal.
In order to clarify when fruit does and does not require a bracha we can analyze the following three cases:
1. Fruit eaten as the main course- When eating fruit as the main course, you effectively turn the fruit from a snack-type food, to a meal-type food and no beracha is required (provided you already said Homotzi).
2. Fruit eaten as one of the courses- Since you are eating other courses, the fruit can not be called the meal-food and thus retains its status as snack-type and would require a beracha, even if you already said Hamotzi.
3. Fruit eaten to whet your appetite- Apparently Chazal felt that certain fruits (grapefruit is the big discussion) increase your appetite for other food items (I would love to know if this is proven scientifically), and thus are considered secondary to the meal and thus no berachas are required.
To conclude, it would seem that most of the time fruit is served in a meal, it is served in a case 2 scenario, where it is just one of the courses, and thus would require its own beracha. Fruit served for dessert for sure requires its own beracha, as it is definitely a snack food.
So an apple a day, not only keeps the doctor away, it provided another opportunity to thank Hashem for His kindness.
(Next week i'yh we will discuss if a beracha is required on Mezonos desserts)
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