Question: In the “Al Ha’Michya” after-blessing, should one conclude the blessing with the words “Al Ha’aretz Ve’Al Ha’Michya Ve’al Ha’Kalkala” or just “Al Ha’aretz Ve’Al Ha’Michya”? Furthermore, when is the “Al Michyatah” text inserted?
Answer: After eating an olive’s volume (approximately twenty-seven grams) of Mezonot items such as cakes, cookies, pasta, and the like, one must recite the “Al Ha’Michya” after-blessing.
The Poskim disagree regarding the concluding words of the blessing. Should one recite “Baruch Ata Hashem Al Ha’aretz Ve’Al Ha’Michya” or should one add the words “Ve’al Ha’Kalkala” as well?
Maran Ha’Bet Yosef (Chapter 208) quotes the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol who maintains that one should merely recite “Al Ha’aretz Ve’Al Ha’Michya” as opposed to “Al Ha’aretz Ve’Al Ha’Michya Ve’al Ha’Kalkala.” He writes that this is likewise the opinion of the Rambam in addition to that of the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol.
Indeed, Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l (in his Responsa Yabia Omer, Volume 8, Chapter 11 and Halichot Olam, Volume 2, page 121) quotes the opinions of the various Poskim on this matter and proves that it is incorrect to conclude this blessing with the words “Ve’al Ha’Kalkala,” for this is not the text of the blessing quoted in the Gemara or most Rishonim, both Sephardic and Ashkenazi. Hagaon Harav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (author of the Tanya), Hagaon Harav Moshe Feinstein (in his Igrot Moshe, Yoreh De’ah Volume 3, Chapter 179, Subsection 4), and many other great Poskim rule likewise.
Regarding the second question when one should conclude the blessing with the words “Ve’Al Michyatah”: When one eats Mezonot items made from flour grown in Israel, one must conclude the “Al Ha’Michya” blessing with the words “Al Ha’aretz Ve’Al Michyatah.” Nowadays, even in Israel, it is almost impossible to find any products made from Israeli flour, for most Israeli products are made from imported flour. Thus, one should conclude the blessing with the words “Al Ha’aretz Ve’Al Ha’Michya” as opposed to “Ve’Al Michyatah” unless one knows for certain that the product is made using Israeli flour, such as certain brands of Israeli Shemura Matzah made from specially guarded wheat grown specifically in Israel.
Summary: One should conclude the “Al Ha’Michya” blessing with the words “Al Ha’aretz Ve’Al Ha’Michya” unless one knows that the product is made from flour grown in Israel in which case one will substitute the last word “Ha’Michya” for “Michyatah.”
