- Berakhot (Talmud)
Berakhot (Hebrew: ברכות, "Benedictions") is the first "masekhet" ("tractate") of Seder Zeraim ("Order of Seeds") of the
Mishnah , the first major text ofJewish law . It primarily addresses the rules regarding the Shema, theAmidah ,Birkat Hamazon ("Grace after Meals"),Kiddush ("Sanctification"),Havdalah ("Separation") and other blessings and prayers. It is the only tractate in "Zeraim" to have aGemara ("Completion") from both the Babylonian Talmud and theJerusalem Talmud .The Shema Yisrael
The first three chapters of the tractate address the subject of the "Shema", the central prayer of Judaism which is to be said twice per day. Topics discussed include when to say it, how to say it and possible exemptions from the fulfillment of this "mitzvah" ("commandment").
aying the Shema
The first two "mishnayot" of the tractate address the subject of precisely when one should say the "Shema" as the
Torah states in (]The Amidah
Chapters 4 and 5 of the tractate address the subject of the "
Amidah ", another important prayer of Judaism which is central to Jewish prayer services.Daily Prayers
' ("morning prayers") can be said until the end of the first third of the day. ' ("afternoon prayers") can be at any time from 30 minutes after noon until sunset. ' ("evening prayers") can be at any time after sunset, but before dawn. ' ("additional prayers") can be at any time from dawn until the seventh hour of the day. () One should study
Torah after prayer services in thesynagogue , offering two short prayers when he enters and leaves the library. ()How to say the Amidah
One must say the "Amidah" every day, but may abbreviate it. () One who makes his praying a mechanical task is not praying. When one enters a dangerous situation, he or she should say a short prayer for safety. () If one is riding a donkey, he must dismount to say the "Amidah". If he cannot dismount, he must turn his head towards
Jerusalem . If he cannot do that, he must turn his heart to God. This also applies to one travelling on a ship or in a wagon. (, ) "Musaf" must always be said on the days it is required regardless of whether or not there is a "minyan " ("quorum") present. () One should not say the "Amidah" if he or she is not serious about what he or she is doing. () The "Musaf" ofPesach ("Passover") must include a prayer for rain. ()Leading prayer
If one makes an error while leading a congregation in saying the "Amidah", a substitute must pick up where the person left off. () The prayer leader should not respond "amen" to the prayers he is leading. () When one who prays (either for oneself or as a prayer leader) makes a mistake, it is a bad omen for him. If he is a prayer leader, it is also a bad omen for those who appointed him. ()
Blessings for food
Chapter 6 is concerned with the various blessings used before consuming different kinds of food.
Blessings for different types of food
There are special blessings for fruits, vegetables, bread and wine. () There is also an all-inclusive blessing that can be used if one is unsure of what blessings to say. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 56-57 ] The all-inclusive blessing should be used for all things which do not directly come from the earth, such as milk, fish and eggs. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 57-58 ] If one has many different kinds of food to say blessings for, he or she may choose as many to say the blessings for as he or she wishes and the blessings said will suffice for all of the rest. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 58 ]
How to bless food
One blessing over a particular food is sufficient for the entire meal and does not need to be repeated. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 58-59 ] A communal meal only needs one set of blessings for the entire group, but individuals dining together (albeit not as a group) must say the blessings individually. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 59 ] The food of primary importance is the one which a blessing is said for. For example, if one is eating a sandwich, the blessing for the sandwich's contents would be said rather than the blessing for the bread. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 59-60 ] One who drinks water should bless the water with the all-inclusive blessing. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 60-61 ]
Birkat Hamazon
Chapter 7 is concerned with "Birkat HaMazon", the prayer said by Jews after a meal is completed.
Figs, grapes or pomegranates do not require the full "Birkat Hamazon", but rather an abbreviated form. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 60-61 ] If a group of three or more people eat together, they must say "Birkat Hamazon". [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 61-62 ] Women, slaves and minors must not be included when counting for the requirement of three mentioned in the previous "mishnah". An olive's quantity of food is sufficient to require saying the prayer. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 62 ] The number of people present does not change the blessing that begins "Birkat Hamazon". [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 62-63 ] If three are dining together, they should not separate until they are finished with "Birkat Hamazon". If a person is dining alone, he should join another group so that they may say "Birkat Hamazon" together. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 64 ]
Kiddush and Havdalah
Chapter 8 is concerned with "Kiddush", the sanctification of
Shabbat andJewish holiday s and "Havdalah", the concluding ceremony of Shabbat.Kiddush
When saying "Kiddush", the blessing over the wine (or over the bread) precedes the blessing over the day. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 65 ] One does not need to wash his hands before saying "Kiddush" but he should wash them after. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 65-66 ] The towel used to wash one's hands should not be placed on the tabel, lest it and anything that comes into contact with it be rendered ritually unclean. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 66 ] Following the meal, all the crumbs in the dining room should be thoroughly swept up, then those involved should wash their hands. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 66 ]
Havdalah
If one dines just before the end of Shabbat, one should wait until after having said the blessing for fire (part of the "Havdalah" ceremony) before saying the "Birkat Hamazon". [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 67 ] One should not say the "Havdalah" blessing until the flame is large enough that the person can see reasonably well by its light. [cite book | last = Blackman | first = Philip | year = 2000 | title = Mishnayoth Zeraim | publisher = The Judaica Press, Ltd. | id = ISBN 0-910818-00-2 | pages = 67-68 ]
pecial Blessings
The ninth and final chapter of the Masechta discusses various special blessings that can be made, such as upon coming across a place where a miracle was performed, or upon seeing thunder or lightning.
ee also
*
Berakhah
*List of Jewish prayers and blessings
*Amidah
*Birkat Hamazon
*Halakha
*Judaism
*Mishnah
*Shema Yisrael
*Talmud References
External links
* of mishnah Berakhot at
Wikisource
* he icon of mishnah Berakhot at Hebrew Wikisource
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