1. The Blessing Text

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא נְפָשׁוֹת רַבּוֹת וְחֶסְרוֹנָן עַל כָּל מַה שֶּׁבָּרָאתָ לְהַחֲיוֹת בָּהֶם נֶפֶשׁ כָּל-חָי. בָּרוּךְ חֵי הָעוֹלָמִים.

Baruch Atah Adonoy, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, Borei Nefashot Rabot Vechasronan Al Kol Mah Shebarata Lehachayot Bahem Nefesh Kol Chai. Baruch Chei Haolamim.

1. The Essence Of The Blessing

Borei Nefashot (בּוֹרֵא נְפָשׁוֹת) is the after-blessing recited after consuming most types of food and drink (such as water, rice, poultry, meat, fruits, and vegetables). This excludes grain products (bread and cakes), wine, and the specific fruits for which the Land of Israel is praised—after which Birkat Hamazon (בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן) or Beracha Mein Shalosh (בְּרָכָה מֵעֵין שָׁלוֹשׁ) is recited.

1. The Meaning Of The Blessing

"Borei Nefashot Rabot" – Creator of many souls (human beings and animals). "Vechasronan" – and all that they lack (all their needs). "Al Kol Mah Shebarata" – for all the things Created in the world. "Lehachayot Bahem" – through which to sustain. "Nefesh Kol Chai" – the soul of every living creature. "Baruch Chei Haolamim" – Blessed is the Life of the worlds (Hashem, who gives life to all worlds).

1. Gratitude Even For Non-Essential Food

The Baal HaTurim (בַּעַל הַטּוּרִים) explains in his work that this blessing refers to everything created in the world that is not strictly essential for human survival. This is in contrast to bread, for example, which earned a special blessing due to its necessity, Birkat Hamazon (בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן). Therefore, we acknowledge the existence of essential food while also thanking Hashem for the creation of foods that are not vital to our survival but enhance our lives.

1. Laws Of The Borei Nefashot Blessing (From "Yalkut Yosef")

• For tree fruits—excluding the five species for which the Land of Israel is praised—as well as for earth-grown fruits, vegetables, and anything not grown from the ground, if one ate a Kezayit (כְּזַיִת) (approximately 27 grams) within the timeframe of Achilat Pras (אֲכִילַת פְּרַס) (about 7.5 minutes), one recites the after-blessing of Borei Nefashot Rabot (בּוֹרֵא נְפָשׁוֹת רַבּוֹת).

• Similarly, if one drank a Revi'it (רְבִיעִית) of water or other beverages (excluding wine) in one continuous drink, one recites the after-blessing of Borei Nefashot Rabot (בּוֹרֵא נְפָשׁוֹת רַבּוֹת).

• If the time elapsed from the start of the drinking until the end was longer than the time it takes to drink a Revi'it (רְבִיעִית) continuously, the amounts do not combine to require an after-blessing.

• If one ate a Kezayit (כְּזַיִת) of tree fruit (not from the Seven Species), a Kezayit (כְּזַיִת) of earth-grown fruit, or a Kezayit (כְּזַיִת) of cheese, and drank a Revi'it (רְבִיעִית) of water, one recites a single blessing for all of them.

• For any food consumed, one does not recite an after-blessing unless a Kezayit (כְּזַיִת) was eaten within the timeframe of Achilat Pras (אֲכִילַת פְּרַס). If a Kezayit (כְּזַיִת) was eaten over a longer period than Achilat Pras (אֲכִילַת פְּרַס), no after-blessing is recited at all.

• For a Mitzvah (מִצְוָה) eating, such as Matzah (מַצָּה) and Maror (מָרוֹר), one must be careful to eat a Kezayit (כְּזַיִת) within the timeframe of Achilat Pras (אֲכִילַת פְּרַס). This timeframe is approximately seven and a half minutes. It is best to be stringent regarding Torah-mandated obligations and eat the Kezayit (כְּזַיִת) within four minutes.

Daily Halacha: Which Comes First: Borei Nefashot or Mei’ein Shalosh?

Borei Nefashot