May these words of Torah serve as a merit le’iluy nishmat Meira Chaya Nechama Bracha, a”h, bat David Mordechai, sheyichyeh, and Menachem Mendel Ben Harav Yoel David, a”h.
This week we learned Chullin 25. These are some highlights.
Is there a bracha for eating bitter lemons?
Our Gemara discusses bitter almonds. The conclusion of the Gemara is that bitter almonds are never obligated in ma’aser. Bitter almonds were not eaten by many when they mature, as they are bitter and not tasty, and even when they are young and small they are not obligated in ma’aser since they have not matured and therefore are not considered fruits. What about blessings? Would a person bless the blessing of borei pri ha’eitz before he eats a bitter almond? Can we extrapolate from bitter almonds to bitter lemons?
Talmidei Rabbeinu Yonah (Brachot 25b s.v. veomrim) discuss reciting blessings on bitter almonds and they quote Behag who rules that someone who eats the young bitter almonds with their soft peels is to recite the blessing of borei pri ha’eitz. One who is eating the mature bitter almonds is not to recite any blessing at all. Since the mature bitter almonds are harmful and not tasty, they do not deserve any blessing at all for their ingestion. Behag does concede that if a person were to sweeten his mature bitter almonds by boiling them he should recite the blessing of borei pri ha’eitz. Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 202:5) rules like the Behag. Rosh (Brachot 6:3) challenges the ruling of the Behag with our Gemara.
Our Gemara taught that bitter almonds are exempt from ma’aser. Apparently, even eating young bitter almonds is not considered a normal act of eating. If so, how could Behag rule that young bitter almonds deserve the blessing of borei pri ha’eitz since the tree was planted to primarily produce young bitter almonds? Rosh proposes an answer. There is a difference between blessings and ma’aser. Young bitter almonds are not obligated in ma’aser because they are immature so are not considered full fruits. However, blessings are a function of benefit and enjoyment and, therefore, since one does enjoy young bitter almonds they deserve the blessing of borei pri ha’eitz. Mishnah Berurah (Orach Chaim 202:35) rules like the Rosh and Behag. Even though in regard to ma’aser the young bitter almonds are not considered fruit, one is to recite the blessing of borei pri ha’eitz when eating young bitter almonds.
Yafeh Lalev (Cheilek Aleph Siman 202:5) rules that lemons have the same law as bitter almonds. If the lemon is sweet it would be like a young bitter almond and one should recite the blessing of borei pri ha’eitz. If they are very sour they have the rules of mature bitter almonds and they do not get any blessing at all; they are damagers. If someone sweetens the bitter lemons with sugar, or he fries them to remove the sour taste, then they have the status of bitter almonds that were boiled or otherwise sweetened and the blessing would again be borei pri ha’eitz. (Mesivta)
By Rabbi Zev Reichman
Rabbi Zev Reichman teaches Daf Yomi in his shul, East Hill Synagogue.
