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Are brachos fundamentally based on achilah (eating) or hana'ah (benefit)? Rashi (רש"י) requires actual consumption, while the Rambam (רמב"ם) focuses on pleasure derived. The machlokes emerges from cases like olive oil mixed with unripe grapes and affects practical applications throughout hilchos brachos.
This shiur presents a comprehensive analysis of a fundamental machlokes between Rashi (רש"י) and the Rambam (רמב"ם) regarding the nature of brachos. The Gemara (גמרא) discusses the case of shemen zayis (olive oil) mixed with anigrin (unripe grapes), where the oil alone would be harmful (mazik) but becomes edible when mixed. Rabbi Zweig explains that Rashi views brachos as fundamentally based on achilah (eating) - requiring an actual act of consumption. According to Rashi, when there is more oil in the mixture (harbeh shemen), it transforms into a new entity that constitutes achilah, warranting a borei pri ha'etz blessing. The Rambam, however, maintains that brachos are based on hana'ah (benefit or pleasure derived). According to the Rambam, even with more oil, one cannot make borei pri ha'etz because the hana'ah doesn't come from the oil itself (which is mazik) but from the anigrin that neutralizes the harmful effects. The shiur explores the Gemara's discussion of choshesh b'grona (sore throat), where oil provides therapeutic benefit. According to Rashi, this wouldn't require a bracha since it's not achilah. However, the Rambam sees this as establishing a new halacha (הלכה) - that hana'ah from coating the throat (not achilah) requires a bracha rishona but not achrona, since no actual eating occurred. Rabbi Zweig demonstrates how this fundamental dispute affects practical halacha in hilchos brachos versus hilchos teruma, with the Ra'avad supporting the distinction that hilchos brachos depends on hana'ah while hilchos teruma depends on achilah. The shiur reveals how this machlokes impacts our understanding of when and why brachos are required.
Brachos 35b-36a
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