Pesachim 7b: When to Make Brachos - Before or After the Mitzvah

Full Summary

This shiur analyzes Tosafos (תוספות) on Pesachim 7b regarding the principle of 'over la'asiyatan' - making brachos before performing the mitzvah (מצוה) action. The Gemara (גמרא) discusses why certain mitzvos like tevilah are exceptions to this rule, with brachos made afterwards. Rabbi Zweig examines Tosafos' complex questions about lulav, where one appears to fulfill the mitzvah upon picking it up, yet still needs to perform na'anuim (waving). Tosafos asks how one can make the bracha 'al netilas lulav' if already yotzei the mitzvah, answering that since na'anuim are still required, it's considered 'over la'asiyatan.' The shiur explores a fundamental distinction between two types of halachic requirements: hilchos brachos (bracha must be chal on something) versus hilchos mitzvos (cannot do mitzvah without bracha). This leads to analyzing whether brachos are made on the ma'aseh hamitzvah (physical action) or the kiyum hamitzvah (fulfillment). The discussion extends to other mitzvos like milah and kiddushin, where brachos are made after certain actions. The Raavad and Rambam (רמב"ם) disagree about erusin - whether brachos are made before or after, relating to whether someone else's involvement affects the timing. Rabbi Zweig explains the Ritva's position that by kiddushin, the bracha is made after the ma'aseh but before complete kiyum, since nisuin is still required. This maintains 'over la'asiyatan' since the mitzvah isn't fully complete. The shiur concludes by examining how these principles apply practically to various mitzvos, establishing when brachos can be made after actions without violating the requirement to make them beforehand.