Berachos 35a

ברכות ל״ה ע״א

Berakhot 35a

Learn Berachos 35a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 35a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Blessings over food and the search for their source

Overview

The משנה lists the blessings over food: tree fruit, wine, produce of the ground, bread, and vegetables, where רבי יהודה gives a different wording. The גמרא asks for a source for blessings and suggests the verse קֹדֶשׁ הִלּוּלִים, but that verse seems to be needed for the laws of fourth-year fruit. For the view of כֶּרֶם רְבָעִי, a גזרה שוה frees one הִלּוּל to teach a ברכה after eating. A קל וחומר then adds the ברכה before eating. The גמרא tries to extend the rule to all foods, first from vineyard and grain through הצד השוה and then from the שבעת המינין, but each attempt is refuted. Since no verse covers foods that are not planted, like meat, eggs, and fish, the גמרא concludes that the ברכה is a סברא: one may not enjoy this world without a ברכה. A ברייתא calls such enjoyment מעילה, and רבא explains that one should learn ברכות from a חכם in advance. שמואל and רבי לוי add that the world belongs to ה׳ before a ברכה, and רבי לוי's answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (41)

1. StatementBlessings for tree fruit and wine
2. StatementBlessings for produce of the ground and bread
3. StatementA disagreement about vegetables
4. QuestionWhere do blessings over food come from?
5. ResponseA verse is offered as a source for blessings
6. StatementOne must bless before tasting
7. ChallengeThe verse may be needed for redemption
8. QuestionWhy is wine linked to song?
9. ProofA verse connects wine with song
10. ChallengeThe fourth-year grapevine view creates a difficulty
11. StatementTwo versions of the fourth-year rule
12. ResolutionThe vineyard view works if he learns a verbal analogy
13. Proofרבי's verbal analogy: produce means a vineyard
14. ConclusionOne extra word remains to teach a blessing
15. ChallengeWithout the verbal analogy, where is the blessing from?
16. ChallengeEven with the verbal analogy, what about the blessing before eating?
17. ResolutionThe blessing before eating comes from a קל וחומר
18. QuestionWhat about foods other than grapes?
19. ResponseLearning from the vineyard to all foods
20. ChallengeThe vineyard is special because of leftover grape clusters
21. ResolutionStanding grain proves the point
22. ChallengeGrain is special because of חלה
23. ResolutionThe vineyard proves the point back
24. ConclusionThe common feature teaches a ברכה for all foods
25. ChallengeVineyard and grain share a link to the altar
26. ChallengeThe olive is already called a vineyard in a verse
27. Resolutionרב פפא: it is only called an olive vineyard
28. ChallengeThe altar objection still stands
29. ResolutionA new source: the seven species
30. ChallengeThe seven species are special because of first fruits
31. ChallengeThis only covers the blessing after eating
32. ResolutionA blessing before eating is learned by a קל וחומר
33. ChallengeWhat about foods that are not planted, like meat, eggs, and fish?
34. ConclusionThe blessing is based on reason: no enjoyment without a blessing
35. ProofA ברייתא: enjoying without a blessing is מעילה
36. StatementWhat is his fix? Go to a חכם
37. ChallengeHow can a חכם help after the sin is done?
38. Resolutionרבא: go to a חכם beforehand and learn the blessings
39. Statementשמואל: Enjoying Without a Blessing Is Like Using Holy Property
40. ChallengeTwo Verses Contradict: Does the Earth Belong to God or to People?
41. ResolutionResolution Begins: One Verse Describes Before the Blessing