When should a mezuman use a cup of wine?

Hi,

There is an ancient practice of having the leader of a mezuman conclude the birkat hamazon blessing after meals with a blessing upon a cup of wine [or grape juice] (kos shel berachah). This is not considered obligatory; indeed, today some consider it less than appropriate because our mezuman is not a true mezuman. The original form of mezuman involved the leader reciting birkat hamazon on behalf of the listeners, and we have each individual recite birkat hamazon independently.

Some particularly have the leader of the mezuman recite the concluding blessing upon a cup on Shabbat or Yom Tov. Since this is a way to beautify the mitzvah, it is most appropriate for a beautiful day - Shabbat and Yom Tov.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:150:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Holding the cup during birkat hamazon

Hi,

When a mezuman is conducted for the birkat hamazon blessing after meals, and the leader concludes with a blessing upon a cup of wine, the leader should hold the cup from the start through the end, until reciting the blessing upon the cup of wine.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:150:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Handing over the cup

Hi,

Often, the leader of a ritual mezuman for the birkat hamazon blessing after eating will conclude birkat hamazon with a blessing upon a cup of wine. In such a case, there is a popular practice of having someone hand the leader the full cup of wine. The idea behind this may be to share the performance of the mitzvah with others.

It would seem that this should be done for other cups used with mitzvot [kos shel berachah], but the practice is not widespread.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:150:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Answering 'Amen' while reciting birkat hamazon

Hi,

One who leads a mezuman recites (at least) the closing line of each blessing of the birkat hamazon blessing after meals aloud, for people to respond 'Amen'.

One who is in the middle of one of the blessings should not answer 'Amen'. However, one may respond 'Amen' at a break-point between the blessings.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:148)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mezuman with people who don't respond

Hi,

For a full mezuman, in which the Name of Gd is invoked, we require a full minyan participating. People who do not understand and do not respond to the leader are not included, despite having eaten.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:144)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Rising during a mezuman

Hi,

Some have the practice of rising for the liturgical line that invokes Gd's Name, when participating in a mezuman before birkat hamazon with ten minyan. Within this point of view, this is considered a davar sheb'kedushah, a sanctified ritual that requires a minyan of ten, and warrants standing.

According to Rivivot Ephraim [others disagree; see the disclaimer at the top of this blog], rising is not required, but one may do so.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:140:4)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Women and Mezuman

Hi,

When three men eat a meal together, they are obligated to participate in a "mezuman" for the blessing after meals. [Women are not obligated to create their own mezuman, but they may if there are three women.]

Where women eat with a group of three men, they are obligated to respond to the mezuman, and the men are prohibited from performing the mezuman without inviting them to participate.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:9:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Beginning seudah shlishit after sunset

Hi,

One should not begin a meal, even the mitzvah meal of seudah shlishit, after sunset on Shabbat afternoon. There is leeway for several minutes, though, for one who has not yet fulfilled the mitzvah of seudah shlishit; opinions vary regarding how much time one has. [See Mishneh Berurah 299:1 and this responsum of Rav Moshe Feinstein.]

One who begins after the permitted time should not be included in the 10 needed for a mezuman invoking Gd's Name. [I believe he would respond to the mezuman, though. - MT]

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:69:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leaving a wedding early

Hi,

The rule, normally, is that one who eats with others at a communal meal is considered a part of their meal. Therefore, one who eats with enough participants to trigger a mezuman [collective birchat hamazon] is required to stay until a mezuman is performed. At a wedding there is an increased obligation to remain for Sheva Berachot.

One who knows he will need to leave before Sheva Berachot should state explicitly [not necessarily to anyone, though] that he is not participating in the communal meal.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:56)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forced Mezuman, Part IV

Hi,

Just as one person must answer the mezuman of two others, so that they will have three, so three or four people must answer the mezuman of an additional six or seven, so that they will have ten.

When those three or four finish their own meal, they then make their own mezuman.

(Mishneh Berurah 200:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Correction to 2/28

Hi,

This is a corrected version of the post from 2/28, "Forced Mezuman Part III":

We have said that if three are eating together, and two wish to recite birkat hamazon, the third must remain in order to respond.

This third member should not eat until after he has finished responding to the berachah of "HaZan et haKol".

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 200:2; Taz Orach Chaim 200:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Waiting for a mezuman

Hi,

We have said that once one sits down to a meal with two others, he is obligated to wait for a mezuman before reciting birkat hamazon and leaving.

The Mishneh Berurah notes that there is an opinion which permits a person to leave early if he finishes eating before anyone else. He rules that one may rely on this point of view if one has a very compelling reason - such as financial loss - to need to leave. However, it would be better if the others would pause in their meals and respond to him for a mezuman.

(Mishneh Berurah 200:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

More on forced mezuman

Hi,

We have said that if three are eating together and two wish to recite birkat hamazon, the third must remain present for the mezuman.

However: If two are still eating, and one wishes to recite birkat hamazon, he cannot compel them to remain present and respond to his mezuman. Rather, he is obligated to wait for them.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 200:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mezuman interrupts a meal

Hi,

One who responds to a mezuman but intends to keep eating may do so without a new hand-washing or berachah.

However, one who decides to stop eating, and then resumes his meal, must wash again for bread and must recite a new berachah upon the food. There is some debate about the berachah upon washing, though; consult your local authority, please.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 200:2; Mishneh Berurah 200:7; Shaar haTziyyun 200:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forced Mezuman, Part III

Hi,

We have said that if three are eating together, and two wish to recite birkat hamazon, the third must remain in order to respond.

This third member should not eat until after he has finished responding to the berachah of "HaZan et haKol".

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 200:2; Taz Orach Chaim 200:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forced Mezuman, Part II

Hi,

If two men start eating together, and then a third joins them, and the two finish first, the third is not obligated to stay and reply to their mezuman.

(Mishneh Berurah 193:19, 200:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forced Mezuman, Part I

Hi,

If three men who are eating together are eating food which requires a mezuman [a group-recited birchat hamazon], and two of them decide to conclude their meal, the third must remain present for their mezuman recitation.

The third should stop eating while they recite the mezuman formula, but even if he continues to eat, and he does not respond to their words, they still fulfill their obligation.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 200:1; Mishneh Berurah 200:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai