Beracha Rishona - Change in Location (Continued)

Q. I am planning on going in and out of the house and would like to have a water bottle with me. Am I required to say a new beracha each time I leave or enter the house, or is there a way to cover everything with one beracha?

A. Shulchan Aruch (OC 178:4) writes that “holchei drachim” (travelers) are permitted to recite a beracha in one location and continue eating as they travel even though they are constantly changing location. The Magen Avrohom (178:11) explains that a change in location is only a hefsek (interruption) if one planned to eat in one place and then changed locations. However, in our case, changing location does not necessitate a new beracha, since from the onset no set place was designated for eating. Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (Igros Moshe OC 2:57) adds that one only has the status of “holchei drachim” if the beracha was said while getting ready to leave the house. However, if one sat down to drink several minutes before leaving, a new beracha must be said when going outside.

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