Sunday, October 22, 2017

halacha - Making a bracha on food which is normally assur, but allowed due to pikuach nefesh


In general, one eating forbidden food does not make a bracha.


In certain cases, foods which are usually assur are allowed to be eaten out of a concern of pikuach nefesh -- danger to life. For example, see Rambam Hilchot Maachalot Asurot 14:14-17.


In such a case, (assuming the person is mentally competent and able to make a bracha), should they say a bracha on this forbidden food?


It might be related to whether it is hutra or duchya -- permitted, or merely "pushed off".


(Originally asked by havarka in chat, who did not want to post a question.)



Answer



The Shulchan Aruch writes explicitly in O"C 204:9 that if one eats foods that are normally forbidden but are now permitted, one does say a Bracha on it.




אכל מאכל או משקה של איסור מפני הסכנה מברך עליו תחלה וסוף:



The Mishna Berurah in note 48 explains the reasoning. Since there is no longer a prohibition to eat the item and one is enjoying it, you have to say a Birkas Hanehenin just like any other item one enjoys. If one does not enjoy it (i.e. it's a bitter food), then one would not say a Bracha, just like one wouldn't say a Bracha if one ate a non-palatable Kosher food.



(מח) תחלה וסוף - דאע"ג שברצונו לא היה אוכל דבר זה כ"א מחמת אונס חליו מ"מ כיון שכבר הוא חולה וחפץ להתרפאות במאכל ומשקה זה חשיבא אכילה שיש בה הנאה. ואם הוא דבר שנפשו קצה בזה א"כ אין החיך נהנה ממנו ואין צריך לברך ע"ז:



Regarding which Bracha is said, the Chayei Adam writes in 49:7 that you say the Bracha that is appropriate for that food. So if, for example, a doctor prescribes that one has to eat a full cheeseburger (bun and all) from McDonald's, you would say a Hamotzi on it just like any other Kosher hamburger.



אפילו אוכל ושותה לרפואה אם הוא מתוק עד שנהנה ממנו מברך ברכה הראויה לאותו מין (ואם הם מרים א"צ לברך כלל) ואפילו הוא דבר איסור כיון שעכשיו התירה לו התורה (סי' ר"ד עיין פ"ח שם):




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