Chapter 51: 10-12
Blessings After Eating
10. All the stringencies mentioned in Chapter 44, Law 6 regarding the grace
after meals should be followed with regard to this blessing.
11. There is a debate among the Halachic authorities concerning the text of
the blessing borey nefoshos. Some maintain that one should say al kol mah
sheboroso, and others maintain that one should say al kol mah sheboro. The
latter opinion should be followed.*
* {The former opinion is more commonly accepted.}
The meaning of this blessing [expresses our praise and thanks to G-d who]
borey nefoshos rabbos v'chesronon (created many souls and their needs):
what they require - i.e., the necessities for the maintenance of their
existence, such as bread and water. [The blessing continues l'hachiyos
bohem nefesh kol choi (to grant life to the soul of every living being)
including] all the other entities which he created which are not
necessities, but grant pleasure - e.g., fruit. [It concludes:] boruch chai
ho'olomim i.e., for all these we bless You, "the Life of the worlds."
The ches of chai is pronounced with a patach (-).* (The Vilna Gaon agrees
with the authorities who require that this blessing also conclude with the
mention of G-d's name - i.e., Boruch Attoh A-d-o-n-o-i chai ho'olomim**).
* {Most authorities (including Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi in his Siddur and
the Mishnoh B'rurah 207:3) maintain it should be pronounced with a tzeireh
(..), chei.}
** {This decision was not accepted by later Halachic authorities (Mishnoh
B'rurah 207:5).}
12. A person who ate fruit which requires the "single threefold blessing"
as a b'rochoh achronoh, and also ate other fruit whose b'rochoh achronoh is
borey nefosohs should recite the "single threefold blessing." Since he
mentions "the fruit of the tree," the blessing covers all the fruit from
trees that ate. However, if he is obligated to recite borey nefoshos for
other foods, his obligation is not fulfilled with the "single threefold
blessing." Under such circumstances, one should recite "the single
threefold blessing" first, and then borey nefoshos.
