Spring 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While much is written regarding the halachos<\/em> of Birkas Hamazon<\/em>, there are also important halachos<\/em> regarding the recitation of Mei\u2019ein Shalosh. Mei\u2019ein Shalosh<\/em> is commonly referred to as Al Hamichya<\/em> because that is the most recited version. Mei\u2019ein Shalosh<\/em> means \u201ca similar abbreviated version of three\u201d referring to brachos<\/em> containing snippets of three of the brachos<\/em> of Birkas Hamazon<\/em>, which Biblically is three blessings.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Few people realize that there are 238 different variations of Mei\u2019ein Shalosh,<\/em>[2]<\/a> a number that has the gematria <\/em>of the word vayevareich<\/em> (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]<\/a> to arrive at 238. Let\u2019s examine the intricacies of the halachos<\/em> of Mei\u2019ein Shalosh<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This bracha should, l\u2019chatchila,<\/em> be recited as soon as possible, but there are always extenuating circumstances.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n On special days, a short statement is added before the words ki atoh<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25ba <\/em>Al ha\u2019aretz v\u2019al pairose\u2019ha<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 is said in the last sentence and in the final bracha after one ate a shiur<\/em> from the shivas haminim<\/em> fruits that were actually grown in Eretz Yisroel.<\/em>[14]<\/a> This is true even if one is located in chutz la\u2019aretz<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25ba <\/em>Al ha\u2019aretz v\u2019al pri<\/strong> gafnah<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 is said in the final sentence and in the final bracha after one drank wine made from grapes grown in Eretz Yisrael.[15]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The shiur <\/em>that one must eat to say Mei\u2019ein Shalosh<\/em> is a kezayis <\/em>(of cake or shivas haminim<\/em> fruit) b\u2019kedei achilas pras.<\/em> The kezayis<\/em> should preferably be eaten within a two-minute span. If this is difficult, it should be eaten within four minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A kezayis<\/em> is the volume of 0.95 fl. oz. (28 ml which is slightly less than 1 fl. oz.).[16]<\/a> For beverages (i.e., wine or grape juice), the shiur<\/em> is a reviis<\/em> (3.8 fl. oz.) in the amount of time it takes to drink a reviis<\/em> (i.e., a 30-second span[17]<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n If one eats a kezayis<\/em> of a dagan<\/em> product, the bracha achrona<\/em> may be Al Hamichya<\/em> even if the actual dagan<\/em> content consumed is less than a kezayis.<\/em>[18]<\/a> This is true if the non-dagan<\/em> ingredients (e.g., sugar) are added to enhance the flavor of the oat and\/or wheat flour (i.e., they are tavlin<\/em> enhancers) and they are combined into a single entity.[19]<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n If a cake is made from potato starch (e.g., for Pesach) or from other gluten-free blends (e.g., with tapioca or almond flour), the bracha achrona<\/em> is Borei Nefashos.<\/em>[20]<\/a>If there is at least 51% dagan<\/em>, one recites Al Hamichya<\/em> after consuming a kezayis <\/em>of cake b\u2019kedei achilas pras<\/em>.[21]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If\u00a0dagan<\/em>\u00a0is less than half of the bread, one must calculate the percentage of\u00a0dagan\u00a0<\/em>within the different \u201cflours\u201d to determine whether\u00a0Al Hamichya<\/em>\u00a0is recited. If, for example, one eats cake that contains 35% oat flour, 25% tapioca flour, 25% millet flour and 15% almond flour,[22]<\/a>\u00a0 the bracha is Mezonos<\/em> but one would need to eat three\u00a0kezeisim\u00a0<\/em>(i.e., to reach a\u00a0kezayis<\/em>\u00a0of oat flour)\u00a0b\u2019kedei achilas pras<\/em>\u00a0to recite\u00a0Al Hamichya<\/em> since the food is only 1\/3\u00a0dagan.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If one eats other fruits (e.g., apples) and a shiur<\/em> of shivas haminim<\/em> (e.g., dates), one should only recite Al Hapeiros<\/em> (this would include apples that normally require a Borei Nefashos<\/em>)[23]<\/a>. If one drinks a reviis[24]<\/strong><\/a><\/em> of wine or grape juice and has in mind other beverages, or if they are in front of him, one does not need to recite an additional bracha rishona<\/em> (Shehakol<\/em>) or bracha achrona<\/em>[25]<\/a> (Borei Nefashos<\/em>) on the other beverages; they are covered by the Borei Pri Hagafen <\/em>and Al Hagefen<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If one eats two items that each have a shiur<\/em> and require a different Mei\u2019ein Shalosh<\/em> (e.g., cake and grapes[26]<\/a> or figs and wine) one should include both in one bracha. The order within the Mei\u2019ein Shalosh<\/em> is identical to kedima[27]<\/strong><\/a><\/em> by bracha rishona<\/em>: First dagan<\/em>, then wine, then shivas haminim.<\/em> This means the order is Al Hamichya<\/em>, Al Hagefen<\/em> and then Al Ha\u2019eitz<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, after eating cake and grapes, one recites Al Hamichya V\u2019al Hakalka V\u2019al Haeitz V\u2019al Pri Ha\u2019eitz<\/em>. Separating them l\u2019chatchila<\/em> into two brachos<\/em> would be a bracha she\u2019eina tzricha <\/em>(an\u00a0unnecessary additional bracha). However, if for example, one ate cake and drank wine and only recited Al Hamichya<\/em>, b\u2019dieved<\/em> one must go back and recite the entire Al Hagefen.<\/em>[28]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some possible scenarios. If you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need further guidance regarding any of these halachos<\/em>, reach out to your rav.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the zechus<\/em> of reciting this bracha properly, may we merit the blessings that we request in Mei\u2019ein Shalosh<\/em>, including that Hashem rebuild Yerushalayim speedily in our days and bring us there to rejoice in its rebuilding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [1]<\/a> Although a fourth bracha was added by Chazal, the Mei\u2019ein Shalosh<\/em> term remained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [2]<\/a> This number is for chutz la\u2019aretz<\/em> and does not include a choleh<\/em> on Yom Kippur. See The Intriguing World of Jewish Time<\/em> (Israel Bookshop Publications, 2022) by this author, <\/em>p. 188.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [3]<\/a> The longest Mei\u2019ein Shalosh <\/em>is when one eats cake and shivas haminim<\/em> and drinks wine on Shabbos Rosh Chodesh or on Shemini Atzeres<\/em> that occurs on Shabbos.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Three Different Mei\u2019ein Shalosh<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Timing and Place: When and Where to Say It<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Special Text for Special Days<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Special Concluding Brachos on Fruits and Wine from Eretz Yisroel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Shiurim: How Much is the Right Amount and How Quickly Must They Be Consumed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Taking Gluten-Free Blends Into Account<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Combining Different Types of Foods: What\u2019s the Bracha?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Did You Forget? Or Can\u2019t Remember? Or Made a Mistake?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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