Q & A from Ask the Rabbi
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Question: What is the proper brocha (blessing) to say on pizza?
Answer: There are certain snack foods which Chazal – our Sages – term as pas habo bikisnin. One must recite a birchas mezonos prior to eating these snack foods. These snack foods are made from flour, are baked in an oven, and have the same texture as bread, and are therefore very similar to bread, as is implied by its name—pas (bread) habo bikisnin. Nevertheless it is governed by a different set of halachos. Prior to eating bread, one must recite a birchas hamotzie even if one is going to eat only small crumb. Conversely, on pas habo bikisnin, one only recites a bichas hamotzie if he plans on eating a much larger amount. When one eats a smaller amount of pas habo bikisnin, he must recite a birchas mezonos. The essential distinction of the unique status of bread which is elevated from the more general bracha of mezonos, and requires the more specific bracha of hamotzie, is due to its prominence as being the basic staple of a meal, while pas habo bikisnin, although being very similar, is normally eaten only as snack. This generally means that foods that are made from flour of the five grains, are baked in an oven, have the same texture as bread, and are normally eaten as a meal, fall under the prominent category of bread, and one must recite a birchas hamotzie prior to eating them. However, if the food is eaten by most people as a snack, a birchas mezonos is generally recited, unless one eats an excessive amount of the food.
There are three views mentioned in the Rishonim, each offering a different definition for pas habo bikisnin.
- Pie. The first definition for pas habo bikisnin mentioned by some Rishonim, is dough that is formed into a pocket and filled with nuts or fruits, commonly known as pie (i.e. cherry or blueberry pie). Since such items are generally eaten by most people as a snack, the bracha is mezonos.
- Cake. A second definition for pas habo bikisnin mention among some Rishonim, is dough that is sweetened (i.e. flour is kneaded together with other sweet liquids, e.g. apple juice, honey, eggs, etc.), or flavoring (e.g. sugar, cocoa), commonly known as cake. Due to its sweetness, it is normally eaten as a snack and not as part of a meal, and as a result, its bracha is mezonos.
- Crackers. A third definition for pas habo bikisnin mentioned by some Rishonim, is dough that has been baked to the degree that it has become very dry, hard, and thin; a food that is commonly known as a cracker. Even though it is made from the exact same ingredients as bread, nevertheless, due to its appearance and texture, it is not eaten as a meal and only as a snack, and as a result, it bracha is mezonos.
Kvias Seuda – Eating Pas Habo Bikisnin As a Meal
If one plans to eat an excessive amount of pas habo bikisnin one must recite bircas hamotzie. The rationale for this halacha is based on the fact that pas habo bikisnin can only be considered a snack if it is treated as a snack. However, if one were to eat an excessive amount of pas habo bikisnin, it cannot be considered a snack but a meal. Therefore, it would have the same status as bread which is usually eaten as a meal, and would require that hamotzie be recited prior to eating it.
Pizza
The custom of many people is to recite mezonos on pizza. This practice is very questionable.
- Firstly, even if pizza is classified as pas habo bikisnin, nevertheless, when one eats two slices of pizza, he has eaten an amount that is very close to the amount that is considered a kvias seudah – eating it as a meal – based on the general eating habits of most people. This is true even if one does not personally feel satiated by two slices of pizza, since kvias seudah is not dependant on each individual, but on the general eating habits of most people.
- Additionally, one who eats one slice accompanied by other food (e.g. French-fries, etc.) is also required to wash, since such an amount of pizza combined with the other items is considered a meal, based on the general eating habits of most people.
- Moreover, one who eats one slice alone and feels completely satiated (i.e. he is completely full and will therefore not eat another meal afterwards) is also required to bentch, since this is an amount that most people would eat together with other side dishes. Therefore, in a case where one slice is eaten and he is completely satiated, we don’t not say that he is acting completely different from the general custom, and he is therefore required to wash.
Therefore, in all of the above cases one is required, according to all poskim, to wash, recited an al netilas yodayim and hamotzie (and bentch afterwards), if he initially intends to eat such an amount.
The above discussion is only applicable if pizza is considered pas habo bikisnin and is therefore subject to the laws of kvias seudah. However, this assumption is very questionable, for this would mean that most people treat and eat pizza as a snack (i.e. eat only one slice with either no other food or very little food accompanying it). Additionally, this would mean that most people would still eat a decent sized lunch or dinner shortly before or after eating pizza. This is because the underlying reason for differentiating between pas habo bikisnin and regular bread (where one is required to recite a homotzie prior to eating even one small bite) is because most people eat bread for or together with a meal while pas habo bikisnin is eaten as a snack. The assumption that most people eat pizza as a snack nowadays is very questionable. If the general custom is to treat pizza as a meal item it would give it the same status as bread and one would therefore be required to recite a hamotzie even on one bite. One should honestly ask himself how he treats pizza and inquire from his friends whether they do eat a decent lunch or dinner shortly before or after eating pizza. This question should be analyzed very seriously. Firstly, one is dealing with Torah obligation to bentch, and secondly, one is dealing with the very important issue of reciting the correct bracha prior to eating an item. One cannot jump to a conclusion that is influenced by one’s laziness not to wash and bentch.