Soda Before Wine - Beracha Achrona

Q. I first drank a cup of soda (Shehakol). If I would have stopped at this point, I would have had to recite Borei Nifashos. Afterwards, I drank a cup of wine. Which beracha acharona do I recite, Al Hagefen alone or Borei Nefashos as well?

A. This question is a matter of dispute among Poskim. The Shulchan Aruch Harav (272:13) writes that Al Hagefen will cover all drinks, even if the beracha rishona was not originally covered by the beracha on the wine. However, according to the Mishnah Berurah (208:72-73 and 174:37), Al Hagefen will only cover drinks that one drank after the wine. Just like one who ate fruit before a meal, must recite Borei Nifashos even after he bentches, so too one who drank soda before drinking wine must recite Borei Nifashos even after he recites Al Hagefen. The Kaf Hachaim (208:82) cites opinions that agree with the Mishnah Berurah, but also quotes the Shiltei Giborim who writes that it is unclear what one should do. The Kaf Hachaim writes that to avoid this uncertainty, if one drank water and would like to drink wine, he should recite a Borei Nefashos first. This is not considered causing an unnecessary beracha, since it is being done to avoid a halachic uncertainty. Another option is to eat another food which will necessitate a Borei Nefashos. If one already drank the wine and has no other food, he should only recite Al Hagefen (based on the rule safek berachos lehakel – in cases of doubt we do not recite a beracha).

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.