Siman - Berachos Daf 40
- Speaking after saying Hamotzi
Although one may not talk in between reciting a bracha and eating,one is permitted to speak between making Hamotzi and eating of the bread if the purpose is to facilitate the eating of the bread.
-Rav says one is allowed to tell the people seated at the table to take a piece of bread.
-R’ Yochanan says one is even allowed to ask for salt or relish to be brought to the table to enhance the taste of the bread.
-Rav Sheishess says one is even allowed to ask that food be prepared for his animals since it is forbidden for a person to eat before he gives food to his animals.
- What type of tree was the Eitz HaDaas?
A Baraisa is brought that lists various opinions regarding what type of tree Adam HaRishon ate from (i.e. the Eitz HaDaas):
-R’ Meir – It was a grapevine. R’ Meir’s reasoning is that we find that“wine brings wailing upon a person,” and the Eitz HaDaas brought about death.R’
-Nechemyah – It was a fig tree. R’ Nechemyah’s reasoning is that it is logical that Hashem will bring about Adam and Chava’s “repair through what caused their damage,” i.e. since their “repair” was through a fig tree, asthey sewed fig leaves to wear, their “damage” i.e. their downfall of eating from the Eitz HaHadaas as well must have been through a fig tree.
-R’ Yehuda – It was wheat.,R’ Yehuda’s logic is that since a child does not know his first words of “Abba” and “Imma” until he begins to eat grain, this indicates that grain is associated with the development of Daas.
- The proper text for a berachah
There is a dispute regarding the required text for a berachah:
- Rav says that any berachah that does not mention Hashem’s name is not considered a berachah.
כל ברכה שאין בה הזכרת השם אינה ברכה
- Rav Yochanan says that any berachah that does not include Hashem’s name and does not mention Hashem’s sovereignty over the world as well, is not considered a berachah.
כל ברכה שאין בה מלכות אינה ברכה
