Chapter 56: 4-7
Laws Pertaining to Blessing Errors
4. Should a person erroneously recite the blessing shehakol for food - any
food, even bread or wine - he has fulfilled his obligation. (See Chapter
50, Law 2.)
5. At the outset, a person should be careful to have the proper intention
when reciting a blessing (as stated in Chapter 50, Law 3). Nevertheless, if
a person erroneously had the wrong intention when he began the blessing,
but concluded it with the proper intention, his initial misconception does
not necessitate a repetition of the blessing, for example, a person took a
cup, thinking that it was wine, and began reciting the blessing with the
intent that it was wine. However, before saying borey pri hagofen, he
realized that it was beer or water, and concluded the blessing shehakol
nih'yoh bid'voro. He need not recite another blessing.
Surely, the converse applies. If a person thought erroneously that a cup
contained water or beer and began reciting the blessing with that
intention, and then realized that it contained wine, he has fulfilled his
obligation, since even if he had concluded according to his original
intention, he would have fulfilled his obligation.
6. A person who concludes the entire blessing in error and realizes and
corrects his mistake immediately after concluding it, [i.e., in the time it
takes to say, Sholom alecho, Rebbe,] has fulfilled his obligation. For
example, a person took a cup containing water or beer under the impression
that it contained wine, and recited the blessing borey pri hagofen.
Immediately, he realized that it was water or beer and corrected himself,
saying shehakol nih'yoh bid'voro, i.e., he said borey pri hagofen, shehakol
nih'yoh bid'voro. [He need not recite a second blessing.]
7. If a person did not realize his error immediately, he must recite the
blessing shehakol again, if he desires to drink this cup. Should he desire
to drink other wine, he should take the wine and drink it immediately
without reciting a second blessing, as long as he has not made any
interruption by speaking. (See Chapter 50,Law 5 and 6.)
Even if he drank from the cup from the cup [over which he made the first
blessing] and only through drinking realized that it was water or beer,
that drinking is not considered an interruption after the fact.
