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Does the principle that mitzvos don't require intention apply when someone makes the wrong blessing category - like saying a basic food blessing instead of the special praise blessing for wine? The shiur develops a fundamental distinction between permission blessings and praise blessings, showing that intention matters when crossing mitzvah (מצוה) categories even if it doesn't within the same type.
This shiur provides an in-depth analysis of Gemara (גמרא) Berachos 12a, focusing on the fundamental question of whether blessings require specific intention (kavana) when the same action could fulfill different types of mitzvos. Rabbi Zweig begins by examining Tosafos (תוספות)'s position regarding someone who intended to make one blessing but said another - for instance, having wine in hand but intending to say 'borei pri ha'eitz' instead of 'borei pri hagefen'. Tosafos argues this is valid only when it was a speech error (plichas peh) rather than wrong intention. The shiur explores the Rif's ruling that in cases of doubt about blessings, we follow the lenient position (safek brachos l'kula), while examining Rabbeinu Yonah's innovative approach that distinguishes between permission to eat (heter achila) versus the fulfillment of the blessing obligation itself. Rabbi Zweig addresses the fundamental question raised by the Raavad: if mitzvos don't require intention (mitzvos ein tzrichot kavana), why is there any problem when someone knows they're making a blessing?
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Berachos 12a
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