Question: At the end of the “Al HaMichya” blessing, if one ate fruits grown in Israel, should one end the blessing by saying “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Peroteha” (regarding the land and its fruits)?
Answer: We must first mention the basic laws of the “Me’en Shalosh” blessing: When one eats a Kezayit (volume of an olive equivalent to approximately 27 grams) of one of the fruits of the Seven Species (such as dates, pomegranates, or grapes), when one is finished eating, one must recite the “Me’en Shalosh” blessing, i.e. “Al Ha’etz Ve’al Peri Ha’etz.” If one eats cake or any other food requiring a “Mezonot” blessing, one will also recite the “Me’en Shalosh” blessing of “Al Ha’Michya Ve’al Ha’Kalkala” after eating. Similarly, if one drinks a Revi’it (approximately 81 cc or 2.7 ounces) of wine or grape juice in one shot, one must recite the “Me’en Shalosh” blessing of “Al Ha’Gefen Ve’al Peri Ha’Gefen.” The text of this blessing is printed in all Siddurim (in the Siddur Yechave Da’at it can be found on page 274).
When one partakes of fruits grown in Israel, one concludes the blessing by saying, “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Peroteha.” Similarly, when one drinks wine made from grapes grown in Israel, one concludes the blessing, “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Peri Gafnah.”
Regarding the ending of “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Ha’Michya” when one has eaten from grain (wheat, barley, and the like) grown in Israel, we have already discussed yesterday, there is a dispute among the Poskim whether or not one should end the blessing with “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Michyatah,” for in the words of the Rambam, we only find a distinction between Eretz Yisrael and outside of Israel regarding fruits, in that when one eats fruits of Israel one concludes “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Peroteha” and for other fruits one concludes “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Ha’Perot.” However, we find no distinction regarding the “Al Ha’Michya” blessing in his words at all.
The Halachot Ketanot writes that indeed there is a difference, for only regarding the fruits of the Seven Species is there any real praise of Israel in that only the land of Israel is able to grow all of these fruits together, whereas in other countries it is difficult to grow all of these fruits because of their varying climates. Therefore, when a fruit is grown in Israel, there is valid reason to praise Israel which is the origin of this fruit; thus, the ending of the blessing is “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Peroteha.” However, there is usually no special advantage in grain that is grown in Israel; therefore, one should not recite “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Michyatah.” Hagaon Natziv from Volozhin explains this matter further that since several grains are not members of the Seven Species (such as spelt and rye), one cannot praise the land of Israel with something that is not distinctive to it. The Poskim, as well as Maran zt”l in his Chazon Ovadia (Tu Bishvat and Berachot, page 192 and on), speak about this matter at length.
However, the Halachot Ketanot tells us that the Halacha regarding this matter is that since the people of Eretz Yisrael customarily change the text of the “Al Ha’Michya” blessing to “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Michyatah” for grain grown in Israel, this is the prevalent custom and one should not deviate from it. This is in spite of the fact that according to his own opinion quoted above, the text should not have been changed. Maran Ha’Chida, as well as other great Poskim, quotes this opinion.
Indeed, we find in the works of earlier authorities as well, such as the Kaftor Va’Ferach and others, that upon eating grain grown in Israel, one should recite “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Michyatah.” Although other Poskim have written that the custom is not so, this is for a completely different reason which is that most grain used in Israeli products is imported from the United States and other countries outside of Israel. However, if one is certain that the flour used was produced from wheat grown in Israel, one should conclude with “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Michyatah.”
Therefore, on Israeli Shemura Matzah, which is usually produced using wheat grown in Israel and then ground into Matzah meal and used to make cakes, one must recite the “Al Ha’Michya” blessing after eating these cakes and conclude, “Al Ha’aretz Ve’al Michyatah.”
