Berachos 49a

ברכות מ״ט ע״א

Berakhot 49a

Learn Berachos 49a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 49a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The required wording and endings of ברכת המזון, the rule אין חותמין בשתים, and the make-up blessings for forgetting שבת, יום טוב, or ראש חודש

Overview

This amud deals with the exact wording of ברכת המזון. It finishes a ברייתא: ברית is mentioned before תורה, רבי אבא requires הודאה at the start and end of ברכת הארץ, and leaving out ברית, תורה, or מלכות בית דוד means one has not fulfilled the obligation. The גמרא brings a dispute over whether הטוב והמטיב needs מלכות, which depends on whether that ברכה is דאורייתא or דרבנן. It then asks how to end בונה ירושלים. רב חסדא objects to ending with two themes, citing רבי's rule אין חותמין בשתים. That rule is tested against several endings and explained by the principle that מצוות are not done in bundles. רב ששת and רב נחמן then disagree about the proper ending. In a story, רב חסדא is criticized for following רב's lone view that ברית, תורה, and מלכות may be left out. The גמרא next explains why הטוב והמטיב contains extra mentions of מלכות. Finally, רב גידל teaches the make-up blessings for someone who forgot שבת, יום טוב, or ראש חודש, and a new story about רב נחמן's mistake begins, continuing on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (52)

1. ProofWhy the covenant of circumcision comes before Torah
2. StatementThanks must open and close the blessing of the land
3. StatementWrong endings make a person an ignoramus
4. StatementMissing covenant, Torah, or David's kingship means no fulfillment
5. ProofThe ברייתא supports רבי אילעא
6. StatementA dispute over whether הטוב והמטיב needs מלכות
7. StatementThe reason behind each side
8. StatementA ברייתא on how to end בונה ירושלים
9. ChallengeDoes that mean 'בונה ירושלים' is not allowed?
10. ResolutionRead it as 'also' מושיע ישראל
11. Statementרבה בר רב הונא ends with two themes
12. Challengeרב חסדא objects: one may not end with two
13. StatementLooking at רבי's rule on its own
14. Challengeלוי: 'על הארץ ועל המזון' has two themes
15. ResolutionIt is one theme: land that produces food
16. Challengeלוי again: 'על הארץ ועל הפירות'
17. ResolutionAgain one theme: land that produces fruit
18. Challengeלוי challenges with the יום טוב blessing ending
19. ResolutionIsrael, who sanctify the holidays
20. Challengeלוי challenges with the ראש חודש ending
21. ResolutionIsrael, who sanctify the New Moons
22. Challengeלוי challenges with the שבת-and-יום טוב ending
23. ResolutionExcept for this one
24. QuestionWhy is this ending different?
25. ResponseOne holiness of the day versus two separate themes
26. QuestionWhat is the reason for the rule?
27. ResponseWe do not do מצוות in bundles
28. QuestionWhat is the final ruling on the Jerusalem ending?
29. ResponseThe ending matches the opening
30. StatementAlways end with Who builds Jerusalem
31. Statementרב חסדא refuses to teach
32. QuestionWhat do you mean?
33. Responseרב ששת's angry reaction
34. QuestionWhy was he angry?
35. ResponseHe left out covenant, Torah and kingship
36. QuestionWhy did you leave them out?
37. ResponseRelying on רב: these themes are not required
38. ChallengeYou followed רב against everyone else?
39. Statementהטוב והמטיב needs מלכות
40. ChallengeDidn't רבי יוחנן already say this?
41. ResolutionTwo mentions of kingship
42. ChallengeThen it should need three mentions
43. ChallengeThen בונה ירושלים should not need מלכות either
44. ResolutionIt is proper because the kingdom of David is mentioned
45. Resolutionרב פפא: two besides its own
46. StatementForgot שבת in ברכת המזון
47. QuestionWho said it? רב
48. StatementForgot יום טוב in ברכת המזון
49. QuestionAgain: who said it? רב
50. StatementWhat to say if one forgot ראש חודש in ברכת המזון
51. StatementThe reporter is unsure about the details of the ראש חודש ruling
52. StatementA new story begins: רב נחמן makes a mistake