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Ikar and Tafel: Difference between revisions

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# The Bracha that one makes on the ikar (primary food) covers the Bracha on the Tofel (secondary food). This rule applies to [[Bracha Rishona]] and [[Bracha Achrona]]. <Ref> S”A 212:1 based on Brachos 41b. See Kol Bo (n. 24) who is uncertain about this.
# The Bracha that one makes on the ikar (primary food) covers the Bracha on the Tofel (secondary food). This rule applies to [[Bracha Rishona]] and [[Bracha Achrona]]. <Ref> S”A 212:1 based on Brachos 41b. See Kol Bo (n. 24) who is uncertain about this.
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The Chazon Ish (27:9) explains that a tafel is never excused from a bracha rishona. Rather, the tafel is excused from its own typical bracha because it is subsumed under the ikar and, therefore, covered by the bracha recited on the ikar.<br />
* The Chazon Ish (27:9) explains that a tafel is never excused from a bracha rishona. Rather, the tafel is excused from its own typical bracha because it is subsumed under the ikar and, therefore, covered by the bracha recited on the ikar.<br />
See Pri Megadim (Preface to Hilchos Birkas ha’Peiros note 11) where he develops a hierarchy of objective significance, including foods comprising a quantitative majority, the five grains, and flavoring agents. </ref>
* See Pri Megadim (Preface to Hilchos Birkas ha’Peiros note 11) where he develops a hierarchy of objective significance, including foods comprising a quantitative majority, the five grains, and flavoring agents. </ref>  
# Situations exhibiting an ikar ve’tafel relationship include both when:  
# Situations exhibiting an ikar ve’tafel relationship include both when:  
## Two entities are intermixed and eaten together
## Two entities are intermixed and eaten together
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* Mishna Brurah 212:10 and Beiur Halacha s.v. VeAyno quotes many achronim who disagree with the Rama. Mishna Brurah concludes that one should avoid this situation by eating the primary food first. </ref>
* Mishna Brurah 212:10 and Beiur Halacha s.v. VeAyno quotes many achronim who disagree with the Rama. Mishna Brurah concludes that one should avoid this situation by eating the primary food first. </ref>
# In general, objective significance is eclipsed by subjective purpose. That is the determination of ikar depends on each and every person subjectively.<ref>Rabbi Alexander Mandelbaum in Yeshurun v. 33 p. 583 writes that the Shulchan Aruch 212:1 holds that the determination of ikar and tofel depends on each person and can change over time. Igrot Moshe OC 4:43 and Rav Nevinsal 208:3 agree.</ref> Therefore, eating cake to temper the bitterness of a shot of whiskey demotes the cake to a status of tafel, notwithstanding the objective significance of flour. <ref>Mishna Brurah 212:5. The Mishnah in Brachos 44a rules that the bracha recited on an ikar excuses the need for an additional bracha on the tafel if the consumer had both in mind when reciting a bracha on the ikar. Thus, when bread is secondary to a salty dish, one recites a bracha only on the salty dish (Tosfos Brachos 44a s.v. be’Ochlei peiros and S”A 212:1). However, it is important to note that the Mishnah Brurah (212:5 s.v “ve’achar”) paskins that a bracha on the bread would be in order if one had an appetite for it as well. Furthermore, based on a Shlah, the Mishnah Brurah advises to avoid such a situation of using bread to temper the effects of the whiskey, as it is difficult to ascertain definitively that one has no appetite for the bread itself.  
# In general, objective significance is eclipsed by subjective purpose. That is the determination of ikar depends on each and every person subjectively.<ref>Rabbi Alexander Mandelbaum in Yeshurun v. 33 p. 583 writes that the Shulchan Aruch 212:1 holds that the determination of ikar and tofel depends on each person and can change over time. Igrot Moshe OC 4:43 and Rav Nevinsal 208:3 agree.</ref> Therefore, eating cake to temper the bitterness of a shot of whiskey demotes the cake to a status of tafel, notwithstanding the objective significance of flour. <ref>Mishna Brurah 212:5. The Mishnah in Brachos 44a rules that the bracha recited on an ikar excuses the need for an additional bracha on the tafel if the consumer had both in mind when reciting a bracha on the ikar. Thus, when bread is secondary to a salty dish, one recites a bracha only on the salty dish (Tosfos Brachos 44a s.v. be’Ochlei peiros and S”A 212:1). However, it is important to note that the Mishnah Brurah (212:5 s.v “ve’achar”) paskins that a bracha on the bread would be in order if one had an appetite for it as well. Furthermore, based on a Shlah, the Mishnah Brurah advises to avoid such a situation of using bread to temper the effects of the whiskey, as it is difficult to ascertain definitively that one has no appetite for the bread itself.  
In a slightly similar vein, R. Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe 4:43) paskins that for strudel (fruit-filled pastry), one who would enjoy the pastry alone can make a Mezonos on the pastry followed by a Ha’eitz on the fruit. Similarly, for ice-cream wafers, if one would enjoy the wafer alone, one can make a Mezonos followed by a Shehakol. R. Moshe explains that many people enjoy the Mezonos part alone, thereby warranting a separate bracha for those who desire the Mezonos part. Similarly, for cereal and milk, a bracha is also recited upon the milk if one would enjoy it independently of the cereal and drink it separately. Comparably, R. Moshe paskins that chicken soup with k’neidel warrants only a Mezonos unless the chicken soup will be eaten separately from the k’neidel.  </ref>
In a slightly similar vein, Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe 4:43) paskins that for strudel (fruit-filled pastry), one who would enjoy the pastry alone can make a Mezonos on the pastry followed by a Ha’eitz on the fruit. Similarly, for ice-cream wafers, if one would enjoy the wafer alone, one can make a Mezonos followed by a Shehakol. Rav Moshe explains that many people enjoy the Mezonos part alone, thereby warranting a separate bracha for those who desire the Mezonos part. Similarly, for cereal and milk, a bracha is also recited upon the milk if one would enjoy it independently of the cereal and drink it separately. Comparably, Rav Moshe paskins that chicken soup with k’neidel warrants only a Mezonos unless the chicken soup will be eaten separately from the k’neidel.  </ref>
===Bracha Achrona===
# Making the bracha achrona for the ikar exempts the tofel from its bracha achrona as long as one ate a kezayit of the ikar.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 212:1</ref>
# However, if one didn't eat a kezayit of the ikar and one did a kezayit of the tofel one should recite the bracha achrona on the tofel.<ref>Halacha Brurah 212:13, Vezot Habracha p. 89</ref>
# The tofel is exempt from its bracha achrona even if it is less significant bracha achrona.<ref>Halacha Brurah 212:12 writes that a bracha achrona on the tofel exempts the ikar even if the bracha achrona on the ikar is more significant such as if the tofel requires a mein shalosh and the ikar only requires a boreh nefashot. Igrot Moshe 4:42 implies the same.</ref>


==Foods Made With One of the Five Grains==
==Foods Made With One of the Five Grains==