Halacha Date: 10 Shevat 5773 January 21 2013
In the previous Halacha we have explained that there are instances that priority is given to bless upon a certain food over another because of the innate significance of the given food, for instance because it is a fruit that belongs to the Seven Species of fruits that the land of Israel has been praised with, as was explained. Now we shall deal with a scenario where priority is given to a certain blessing over another, not because of the innate importance of the food, rather because of the importance of the blessing itself.
The blessing of “Shehakol Nihya Bidvaro” (“That everything was created through His word”) which is recited on meat, cheese, water, and so on is not such a specific blessing in that it includes the entire creation in it. Therefore, this blessing is not as important as the rest of the blessings where the praise of Hashem is more explicit in them. For instance, the blessings of “Borei Peri Ha’etz” or “Borei Peri Ha’adama” are more specific in that they apply exclusively to fruits of the tree or of the ground. It is for this reason that one who blesses “Borei Peri Ha’etz” or “Borei Peri Ha’adama” on water or cheese and the like does not fulfill his obligation for these blessings do not include the idea of the creation of water or cheese at all. However, if the opposite happens, meaning that one recites the “Shehakol” blessing on fruits or vegetables, he does in fact fulfill his obligation for the “Shehakol” blessing includes all creations, including fruits and vegetables.
Based on this, if there are fruits and other foods which require a “Shehakol” blessing placed in front of a person, he must first recite the “Borei Peri Ha’etz” blessing on the fruits, for this blessing is more important in that it only exempts fruits of the tree. Similarly, if there are vegetables and other foods that require the “Shehakol” blessing in front of a person, he must first recite the blessing on the vegetable, for this blessing is more important in that it exempts only fruits of the ground.
Summary: The blessings of “Borei Peri Ha’etz” and “Borei Peri Ha’adama” should be recited before the blessing of “Shehakol Nihya Bidvaro”. Thus, if there are fruits in addition to other foods which require the “Shehakol” blessing placed in front of a person, he should first bless on the fruits and taste a piece of fruit and only then recite the “Shehakol” blessing and partake of the other foods. In the next Halacha we shall explain some more details about these laws.
