Spring 2026

While much is written regarding the halachos of Birkas Hamazon, there are also important halachos regarding the recitation of Mei’ein Shalosh. Mei’ein Shalosh is commonly referred to as Al Hamichya because that is the most recited version. Mei’ein Shalosh means “a similar abbreviated version of three” referring to brachos containing snippets of three of the brachos of Birkas Hamazon, which Biblically is three blessings.[1]

Few people realize that there are 238 different variations of Mei’ein Shalosh,[2] a number that has the gematria of the word vayevareich (and he blessed). The various possible combinations of foods (e.g., cake and wine, cake and fruit from Israel) add up to 17 variations. This number is multiplied by 14 possible special day combinations[3] to arrive at 238. Let’s examine the intricacies of the halachos of Mei’ein Shalosh.

The Three Different Mei’ein Shalosh

Al Hamichya – said after eating a shiur […]