Siman - Berachos Daf 48
- Minimum number of bread-eaters in a zimun
There is a machlokes regarding how many of the men in a ten-man zimun are required to have eaten bread:
- R’ Yirmiyah says a simple majority of six.
- R’ Zeira regretted that he did not inquire about the case of six and was concerned that possibly a more noticeable majority of seven was required.
The Gemara brings the halachah that one who ate vegetables or wine can join in a zimun of ten (assuming there were seven who ate bread) but cannot lead the zimun unless he ate a kezayis of food produced from grain.
- Who wrote various berachos in Birkas Hamazon
The Gemara details how the text of Birkas Hamazon was formulated:
- Moshe composed the berachah of Hazan at the time the manna fell.
- Yehoshua composed the berachah for Eretz Yisrael when they entered the land.
- David and Shlomo composed Boneih Yerushalayim.
David, who conquered Yerushalayim, composed the segment, “Have mercy, please, Hashem our G-d, on Israel Your people and on Yerushalayim your city.”
Shlomo, who built the Beis Hamikdash, composed the segment, “and on the great and holy House.”
- The Sages of Yavneh composed Hatov VeHameitiv on the day the slain Jews of Betar were finally allowed to be buried.
Hatov (Who is good) refers to the miracle that the bodies did not decay.
VeHameitiv (and Who bestows good) refers to the kindness that the bodies were allowed to be buried.
- The source for the various berachos in Birkas Hamazon
A Baraisa breaks out the Torah verse (Devarim 8:10) that serves as the source for the blessings in Birkas Hamazon:
- Hazan – ואכלת ושבעת וברכת – And you will eat, be satisfied and bless
- Hazimun – את ה' אלקיך – Hashem your G-d
- Haaretz – על הארץ – on the land
- Boneih Yerushalayim – הטובה – the good [land]
- Hatov VeHameitiv – אשר נתן לך – which I have given you
