After-Blessings


After-blessing is a term for one of the three types of blessings that the Sages instituted to be recited after eating or drinking.

Types of after-blessings

There are three main types of after-blessings:
Reciting Birkat Hamazon exempts one from saying other after-blessings during the same meal, provided that bread was eaten. A Me’ein Shalosh blessing on fruits of the Seven Species exempts Borei Nefashot for other fruits, but not for unrelated foods or drinks.

Minimum quantity for obligation

The minimum quantity that obligates an after-blessing is a kezayit consumed within the time of kdei akhilat pras. For drinks, the required amount is a Revi'it.

After-blessings at the Passover Seder

At the Passover Seder, two after-blessings are recited: one is Birkat Hamazon after the meal, and the other is Me'ein Shalosh after the third and fourth of the Four Cups of Wine.

After-blessings for non-food items

According to the Babylonian Talmud in Tractate Berakhot, one does not recite an after-blessing on things that are not food. The halakhah follows the opinion that there is no after-blessing for mitzvot, unlike the custom recorded in the Jerusalem Talmud of reciting "Blessed are You... who keeps His commandments" after removing tefillin. Similarly, no after-blessing is recited for fragrance.