Berachos 45a

ברכות מ״ה ע״א

Berakhot 45a

Learn Berachos 45a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The ברכה on water and the end of פרק כיצד מברכין; the משנה of זימון, its source, and whether two may make a זימון

Overview

This amud closes the sixth chapter of ברכות, פרק כיצד מברכין, and opens the seventh, פרק שלשה שאכלו. First the גמרא finishes explaining that someone who drinks water only to wash down stuck meat makes no ברכה. Then it asks whether the ברכה on water follows the תנא קמא (שהכל) or רבי טרפון (בורא נפשות רבות), and the answer is: go see what the people do. After the הדרן, the new משנה teaches that three who ate together must make a זימון. It lists who counts toward the three and who does not, and gives the minimum amount of eating: a כזית, or a כביצה for רבי יהודה. The גמרא finds the source for זימון in פסוקים where one person calls on others to praise ה׳. It adds that the one answering אמן, and the מתרגם, should not be louder than the main speaker. Finally רב and רבי יוחנן argue whether two people may make a voluntary זימון, and the גמרא pushes off challenges to the lenient view. The last answer, about a waiter, continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. ResponseWater drunk to free stuck meat needs no ברכה
2. Statementרבי טרפון's ברכה on water
3. QuestionAsking which opinion is the הלכה
4. ResponseGo see what the people do
5. ConclusionHadran — Closing כיצד מברכין
6. StatementThree who ate together must make a זימון
7. StatementUnusual eaters who still count for זימון
8. StatementPeople who ate forbidden food, a waiter who ate too little, and a non-Jew do not count
9. StatementWomen, slaves, and minors are not counted with the men
10. QuestionHow much must a person eat to be counted?
11. ResponseAn olive-bulk, or an egg-bulk according to רבי יהודה
12. QuestionWhat is the source for זימון?
13. Responseרב אסי: 'Praise God with me'
14. Responseרבי אבהו: 'When I call the name of ה׳, give praise'
15. StatementOne who answers אמן should not be louder than the one blessing
16. StatementThe translator should not be louder than the תורה reader
17. ProofA ברייתא supports the rule about the translator's voice
18. StatementCan two people make a זימון? רב and רבי יוחנן disagree
19. ChallengeThe משנה says three, which seems to rule out two
20. ResolutionThe משנה is about an obligation, and two would be voluntary
21. ChallengeThree who ate together may not split up
22. ResolutionThree already became an obligated group
23. ChallengeThe waiter serving two versus serving three
24. ResolutionThe answer to the waiter case begins