Due To Rav Sternbuch's very busy schedule, he did not have time to look through this sheet.

Hilchos Berachos part V

Shinui Makom – cont.

In the previous shiur we learned that there is no shinui makom within the same room, i.e. if one began eating food in part of the room one may continue eating in another part of the same room, even if one cannot see the original point of eating.

As stated, most of these halachos refer to eating foods other than bread and mezonos, unless stated otherwise.

            Same Room

What is the status of moving from one room to another in the same house?

We will divide it as follows -

When customary to walk from one room to another in the same house, one may do so l’chatchila and it is not a shinui makom. [1]

Ø  One might go to the bathroom or to the kitchen during a meal and since it is commonly done, it is not a shinui makom.

Ø  One gets a phone call during the meal and the phone is in the study, since this normally happens during a meal, one may answer the phone in the other room and it will not constitute a shinui makom.

If not customary to do so, it is advisable to have in mind when reciting the b’racha that one intends to go from room to room and it will not be a shinui makom.

If one did not have it in mind, many have the minhag that it does not constitute a hefsek. The Mishna Berura writes [2] that it is correct to be stringent and not to go to another room while eating because there are poskim who consider it a shinui makom.  However, if one can see the original eating place from the next room, one may l’chatchila go to the other room.

Whatever the case, if one went to another room, one will not recite a new b’racha upon returning.

From apartment to porch

A porch is considered like another room of the same house and the above rules apply there as well, [3] regardless of whether the porch has a roof or does not.

Ø  If one regularly goes from one room to another while eating, one may go outside to the porch and it will not constitute a hefsek.

From one apartment to another

Most poskim agree that moving from one apartment to another (two owners) constitutes a hefsek.

As for walking into the hallway between apartments, it is cited in the name of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach that it is not a shinui makom, because the apartment owner also has a share in the hallway, while Rav Eliashiv is cited to hold that it is a shinui makom. [4] Consequently one should avoid it.

Ø  You’re eating fruit salad and your next door neighbor asks you to come in for a minute and help him with something. Upon returning you are required to recite a new b’racha on the fruit salad. You will make one b’racha acharona after consuming the fruit salad.

Ø  You’re drinking a glass of water and your spouse calls you outside to help take in the shopping. As soon as you step outside the building you have created a shinui makom and must recite a new b’racha rishona on the water. This is true even if you knew when you recited the b’racha that your spouse would call you.

Open spaces – Parks and forests

A fenced in park is the same as a room. [5]

A park or forest is governed by a different set of rules because these places are not confined.

The rule is that if one can see the original eating place it is not a shinui makom, but if one loses sight of the eating place, it is a shinui makom. Even if one cannot see the original place because it is obstructed by trees or hedges or a small wall, it is a shinui makom and is required to recite a new b’racha rishona. [6]

When you made ha’adamah you knew that you intended to walk around the park, it will not be a shinui makom even if you lose sight of the original eating place. [7]

Ø  You sat down on the grass and started eating potato chips, which are ha’adamah. After a short while you decided to go for a walk. You left your bag of chips behind and during the walk lost sight of the eating place. Even if it comes back into sight after a few seconds, you have lost your original b’racha and when you resume eating you are required to recite a new ha’adamah.

Ø  You decided to drink some Coke while sitting on the grass but knew that you will intersperse it with some jogging and fast walking, all in the park. When returning to your drink you will not need to recite a new b’racha.

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