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Which Beracha do

you Make First?

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon

n Parashat Eikev, the Torah speaks in seven species is among the fruits, make explains that among the seven species
praise of the Land of Israel and men- the beracha on it.’ The sages say, ‘Make the themselves, the fruits mentioned closest
tions the seven species: “A land of beracha on the fruit which is chaviv (the to the words “ץ ֶרְ ֶאָ, land,” take precedence
I wheat and barley and vine and fig and fruit you prefer)’” (Berachot 40b). when making a beracha, and that those
pomegranate, a land of olive oil and honey” fruits that follow the first “land” in the
(Devarim 8:8). From this verse, our rabbis Rav Hai Gaon, Rambam (Berachot 8:13) verse take precedence over those fruits
learned the order of priority in berachot for and other rishonim rule according to that follow the second “land” in the
the seven species. This law refers to a situa- the opinion of the sages that one should verse (Berachot 41b). Therefore, the order
tion in which the berachot are equal – when recite the beracha on the fruit he prefers. for berachot is: olives, dates, grapes, figs,
you are making the same beracha on all of However, Tosafot, Rosh, Rashba and most pomegranates (Shulchan Aruch 211:4).
the foods in front of you. However, there is rishonim rule according to the opinion of
another rule that precedes this law – when Rabbi Yehudah, that one should make the There is an easy way to remember the
you must make different berachot on the beracha on the fruit of the seven species. order of precedence within the seven spe-
foods in front of you. What is the underlying logic of the dis- cies: the fewer pits there are, the greater
their precedence when reciting berachot.
pute? Making a beracha on the seven spe- Olives have one pit, dates have a split seed
Different berachot cies is an objective determination, deriv- (two pits), grapes have several seeds (usu-
This is known as the rule of שֶׁ”אָ עַ”גֶּמָ – mezo- ing from the importance of the fruits, ally three or more), figs have many seeds,
not, gefen, eitz, adama, shehakol. When the while chaviv is a personal determination. and pomegranates are made up entirely
berachot are different, one must first make According to the sages and Rambam, one’s of seeds.
the beracha of mezonot, followed by gefen, eitz, personal preference is the determining
adama, and shehakol (Shulchan Aruch 211). factor, and if he desires a certain fruit, The primacy within the seven species
he should make the beracha on that fruit. also stems from man’s participation in
This rule implies that the significance creation. Wheat and barley are usually
of the beracha is more important than However, according to Rabbi Yehudah and eaten as bread, and so the Torah gives spe-
the value of the fruit itself. The first most rishonim, the importance of the Land cial importance to bread. Dates, olives and
rule in determining priority in berachot of Israel is decisive. Therefore, one must grapes are fruits from which man creates
is the more important blessing. Only if always make the beracha on the seven important things like oil, honey, and wine,
the berachot are equal do we consider the species, because the Land of Israel gives so they come before figs and pomegran-
value of the fruit or food, and determine them special importance. ates. G-d created a world that requires our
the order of priority accordingly. The Shulchan Aruch simply cites the view investment and repair. Therefore, fruits
of the majority of the rishonim, that the that we must invest more effort in receive
Rules of priority only apply if you want seven species take precedence. Later, the greater significance in halacha.
to eat both foods Shulchan Aruch cites Rambam’s position,
Sometimes, a person only intends to eat a that one’s personal preference is the deter-
certain food now, even though there are mining factor. It follows that the main
other foods on the table as well. For exam- approach in halacha is to make the beracha
ple, a person wants to eat meat, but there on the seven species, regardless of one’s
is also a cake on the table for dessert. personal preference. While Taz states that
Although the beracha of mezonot comes one may follow Rambam’s view, the Mish-
before all other berachot, one may make nah Berurah writes that one should give Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon
the beracha of shehakol first (Rema 211:5). precedence to the seven species, for that is is Head of Mizrachi’s Educational
the view of the majority of rishonim. How- Advisory Board and Rabbinic Council.
A preference for another fruit over the ever, if one follows the Rambam’s view, He serves as the Chief Rabbi of Gush
Etzion, Rosh Yeshivah of the Jerusalem
seven species there are poskim who can be relied upon. College of Technology and is the Founder
The Mishnah in Berachot discusses and Chairman of Sulamot and La'Ofek.
whether you make a beracha on the seven Precedence within the seven species
species first or on a fruit that you prefer. “A land of wheat and barley and vine and
“If there are several types of fruit in front fig and pomegranate, a land of olive oil A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
mizrachi.org/speakers
of him, Rabbi Yehudah says, ‘If one of the and honey” (Devarim 8:8). The Gemara

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