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Pesachim 103
1) BLESSINGS AT THE HOUSE OF THE "REISH GALUSA"
QUESTION: The Gemara relates that Rava, during a single meal, would recite a
Berachah Rishonah on the wine of Kidush and also on the wine of Birkas
ha'Mazon (Rashbam). He defended his conduct by citing the practice of the
house of the Reish Galusa. Rav Yakov bar Ada argued that no proof can be
adduced from the conduct of the house of the Reish Galusa, because a person
there never knows if he will get any more wine to drink, and therefore he
must make a new Berachah every time more wine is served.
What is Rav Yakov bar Ada's logic? Why should the guests of the Reish Galusa
make new Berachos on their wine just because they are not sure whether they
will be getting more wine? To the contrary -- since they do not know what
else is going to be served, they should have in mind at the time of their
first Berachah that they will drink whatever the host serves (as we see in
Berachos 42a and Rashi there, DH a'Taka d'Reish Galusa)!
ANSWERS:
(a) TOSFOS (DH Lo Havi) explains that in the house of the Reish Galusa, they
recited a new Berachah only on the cup of wine used for Birkas ha'Mazon.
Since there were so many people there, each person thought that he would not
get any of the wine. Therefore, when he does get some of the wine of Birkas
ha'Mazon, he must make a new Berachah. Other wine served during the meal was
certainly covered by the first Berachah, though, since a person has in mind
to drink whatever the host serves.
(b) The RASHBAM (DH Lo Havi) seems to say that in the Reish Galusa's house,
they made a Berachah on *every* cup of wine, even wine served during the
meal. Why did they do that?
TOSFOS RABEINU PERETZ mentions that there were a large number of people at
the Reish Galusa's house, and the amount of wine that was normally served
apparently did not suffice for everyone. If so, perhaps they did not have in
mind that they would be drinking any more wine when they made their first
Berachah. That is why they must make a new Berachah on each new cup.
103b
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