Mitzvah habah baverira the stolen soda updated

The Stolen Soda

Question: is it wrong to make a bracha on stolen food?

Yesterday’s Discussion

The Debate..• You should still make

a bracha on something you stole…just because you stole from man does not mean you should steal from G-d also!

• Two wrongs don’t make a right!

Is Azi Right?

The Debate is based on the following gemara…

N o n -

k o s h e r

& M A K E A

B R A C H A

Ra’avad

• If you are getting enjoyment from the food, why shouldn’t you make a bracha…even if you stole it…

Summary: The Argument

• Azi/Ben– It is a good idea to make

a bracha on a stolen object

– IT IS NOT HYPOCRITICAL

• Barth/Avi– It is a bad idea to make a

bracha on a stolen object– IT’S HYPOCRITICAL

3rd Opinion – The Tashbatz

Tashbatz

• Bad Breath– Yes it is hypocritical…but you should

still make a bracha

Problem With Ra’avadGemara – Baba Kamma 96a

• You stole wheat kernels and ground them into wheat…and now you want to separate Challah from them and say the bracha of “hafrashas challah”…”this is not a bracha it is a curse…”

Another Version of B”K

• The version in the Tosefta clearly implies that the problem is with making a bracha upon eating the food, because of the hypocrisy involved. However, there are two ways to understand why one is absolved from making a bracha:

• The version in the Tosefta clearly implies that the problem is with making a bracha upon eating the food, because of the hypocrisy involved.

To summarize, there are 3 positions in the Rishonim

• 1. Ra’avad, R’ Yonah – make the bracha, because, hey, if you enjoy the food, you’re obligated to make the bracha.

• 2. Tashbetz, Rosh – make the bracha, even though it’s hypocritical, because you’re not absolved from the obligation to make a bracha just because you stole the food.

• 3. Rambam, Rashba (Paskened by SA) – if you’re violating something by eating, then your bracha is an act of hypocrisy and you’re better off not making it.

What is the purpose of a Bracha?

B r a c h a

Ask permission from G-d to Enjoy His World

Recognize G-d in World via

Gratitude to Hashem for Creating a World Filled

with Pleasure

Halacha

It’s worth pointing out

• The Magen Avraham, and in his wake Mishna Berurah, advocate bentching in such a situation for two reasons:a) we’re machmir on a Biblical obligation like bentchingb) in a case where he didn’t realize it was not-kosher until after eating it, there’s not ‘curse’ involved (this is directly against the Rambam, I might add).

Next Case: Person Going to Die If He Doesn’t Eat Pig on Deserted

Island