Search results for: ""Ha'motzi""

HaMotzi: Other Foods
You may not substitute other foods for the two loaves (lechem mishneh).
ExampleYou may not use two apples or two cans of fish.
HaMotzi: Crackers
The minimum volume of a cracker or crispbread (such as Ryvita or Wasa) that may be used for lechem mishneh is 1 oz. (30 ml).
HaMotzi: Bagels
You may use two bagels for the two Shabbat loaves (lechem mishneh) even though they are already sliced most of the way through.
HaMotzi: Shabbat
For HaMotzi on Shabbat, see Shabbat: Two Loaves (Lechem Mishneh).
HaMotzi: When To Lift the Bread
When saying ha'motzi, lift the bread when saying God's name. This is a non-binding custom, not a halacha.
HaMotzi: Forgot To Wash
Situation You said ha'motzi without having washed your hands first.
What To Do Up until the time you say birkat ha'mazon, you must interrupt your meal and wash your hands. 
Note Say al netilat yadayim ONLY if you will still eat at least 1.9 fl. oz. (56 ml) of bread afterward; if you will eat less than 1.9 fl. oz., wash without a blessing.
HaMotzi: Speaking after Washing
Situation You washed your hands in order to eat bread. You spoke before saying hamotzi.
What To Do You do not need to wash your hands again.
You do not need to say the blessing on washing hands again.
HaMotzi: Being Touched by Unwashed Hands
Situation Someone who has not yet washed touches your hand after you have washed your hands, said al netilat yadayim, and dried your hands.
Status
  • If his/her hand is dry, there is no problem of transferring impurity.
  • If his/her hand is wet, this may have transferred ritual impurity to your hand.
What To Do
  • If his/her hand is wet, touch a normally covered part of your body and then rewash your hands and say the blessing on washing hands.
    Note If you have already said ha'motzi, don't repeat the ha'motzi blessing.
HaMotzi: Washing Hands: Procedure
To wash for ha'motzi, use the One-Time Method, see How To Wash Hands the One-Time Method.
           
HaMotzi: Washing Hands: Finding 4 fl. oz. Container
Situation You do not have a washing cup of at least 4 fl. oz. (119 ml) and you need to wash hands after sleeping or before eating bread.
Status You may not substitute a smaller washing container (such as a 2 fl. oz./59 ml cup) and use it twice. 
What To Do You must travel up to 18 minutes away to get such a container when needed.
Note If you have a spigot that is less than 12 inches above the ground, you may open the spigot and let at least 4 fl. oz. (119 ml) flow out, close the tap, reopen it, and repeat.
HaMotzi: Washing Hands: Finding Water
To find water for washing hands before eating bread:
  • You must travel or walk up to 18 minutes away to find water.
  • If you are already traveling, you must continue up to 72 minutes (in the direction in which you are going anyway) to find water.
  • If you still cannot find water, cover your hands with any type of separation (gloves, sheet of plastic, bag, foil, or some other object) to keep your hands from directly contacting the bread.
 
HaMotzi: Washing Hands: When To Wash
Before eating bread, you must always wash your hands.
Note If you do not plan to eat at least 1.9 fl. oz. (56 ml) of bread within four minutes, wash but do not say the blessing al netilat yadayim.
HaMotzi on Bread Made of the Five Grains
Wash the One-Time Method and say ha'motzi on bread made of the Five Grains (wheat, rye, oats, barley, or spelt), even if you will not eat at least 1.3 fl. oz. (39 ml, or 1/6 cup) within four minutes.
Note Say the blessing al netilat yadayim on washing hands ONLY if you will eat at least 1.9. fl. oz. (56 ml) of bread within four minutes.
Note If you eat less than 1.3 fl. oz. of bread of the Five Grains, do not say birkat ha'mazon or any other after-blessing.
What HaMotzi Covers
Desserts that HaMotzi Does Not Cover
Non-mezonot dessert foods (which often have a sweet taste) are not normally eaten with bread. Say fore-blessings on desserts at a meal (for which you have already said ha'motzi and eaten bread) only on:
  • Fruit from “trees”(borei pri ha'eitz),
  • Fruit from the ground (borei pri ha'adama), such as melons and strawberries, and
  • Specialty items (she'hakol), such as ice cream.