The Tosefta on Blessings after a Meal

4:7. This is the general rule: Any [breadstuff] before [the eating of] which one recites the benediction, “Who brings forth bread from the earth”—he must recite three benedictions after [eating it] [i.e., the full series of benedictions after meals]. [ . . . ]

15. This is the general rule: [Regarding] any food that is [made from one] of the seven kinds [of produce] or a kind of breadstuff—Rabban Gamaliel says, “One recites three benedictions [that is, the full series of benedictions after meals] after [eating] it, and sages say, “[He recites] one benediction [that is, an abbreviated form of the series].” [ . . . ]

5:17. Women and slaves and children are exempt [from the obligation] [cf. m. Berakhot 3:3, 7:2] and cannot exempt others from their obligation [to recite the benedictions after meals]. Indeed they said, “A woman may recite the benediction on behalf of her husband, a son may recite the benediction on behalf of his father, a slave may recite the benediction on behalf of his master.” [ . . . ]

21. A gentile who recites a benediction using the name [of God]—one may respond [to his benediction by saying] “Amen.”

[A gentile who praises] the name [of God]—[ed. princ.: A Samaritan who recites a benediction using the name of God—]one may not respond “Amen” to his benediction, unless he has heard the entire benediction.

Adapted from the translation of Tzvee Zahavy.

Notes

Words in brackets appear in the original translation.

Credits

t. Berakhot 4:7, 15; 5:17, 21, trans. Tzvee Zahavy, from The Tosefta: Zeraim, ed. Jacob Neusner and Richard S. Sarason (Hoboken, N.J.: KTAV Publishing House, 1986), pp. 21, 23, 29, 30. Adapted with permission of the publisher.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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