A Full Kezayis

Q. In a previous Halacha, it was explained that unlike other foods, after reciting Hamotzi one should preferably eat a kezayis of bread before speaking. What is the reason for this?

A. Various reasons are suggested by Poskim to explain why one should not speak until a kezayis of bread is eaten. The Dagul Mirevava (OC 167) explains that when eating a meal with bread, the other foods are considered tofel (secondary). The beracha of hamotzi relates to the entire seuda (meal), and for this reason, the other foods do not require a beracha. This is only true if one eats a kezayis of bread which is significant amount. It is therefore preferable to establish the primacy of bread at the onset of the meal by eating a kezayis immediately after the beracha. The Noda B’Yehuda (Drashos HaTzlach) offers another explanation. Ordinarily, if one made a berocha on a food and then changed locations, a new beracha must be recited because the of the interruption. However, if one ate a kezayis of bread and then changed locations, the meal is considered still in progress and one may continue eating without a beracha. For this reason, it is best to eat a kezayis right away. Otherwise, if for some reason a person will need to change locations before eating a kezayis, a new beracha will be required and one may forget to do so. The Aishel Avrohom M’Butchach (OC 167) writes that we only recite the beracha of netilas yadayim, when we eat a kezayis (or according to some a k’beitza) of bread. Therefore it is best to eat the kezayis of bread as soon as possible to connect the beracha of netilas yadayim to eating the kezayis of bread.

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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.