Two Halachot a Day: Jewish Blessings and the Power of Ein Od Milvado

Two daily halachot from the book Halacha Lemaaseh by Rabbi Yaron Ashkenazi, based on the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory.

Which Wording Should Be Used When Concluding the Me'ein Shalosh Blessing?

When reciting the Me'ein Shalosh blessing after eating grain-based foods, should one conclude with Al Michyata Ve'al Kalkalata (“For its sustenance and nourishment”) or Al Hamichya Ve'al Hakalkala (“For the sustenance and nourishment”)?

Someone who eats grain-based foods made from grain grown in the Land of Israel should conclude the blessing with Al Michyata. However, if the grain was grown outside Israel, the correct conclusion is Al Hamichya.

When there is uncertainty about the grain's origin, one should use Al Hamichya, as most baked goods and grain-based products sold in Israel today are made from grain grown abroad.

Is a Blessing Recited Silently in One's Mind Considered Valid?

If someone recites a blessing mentally without actually speaking the words, have they fulfilled their obligation, or must they repeat the blessing aloud?

The early rabbinic authorities (Rishonim) disagree about whether mentally reciting a blessing is halachically equivalent to speaking it.

According to one ruling, if a person has eaten enough to be fully satisfied, they must recite Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals) aloud, even if they have already recited it mentally. In this case, the principle of safek berachot lehakel, which generally means that a blessing is not repeated when there is uncertainty, does not apply because the obligation to recite Birkat Hamazon is biblical. This ruling appears in Yabia Omer (Vol. 4, Orach Chaim 3).

However, Yalkut Yosef (Orach Chaim 206:13) rules that even in the case of Birkat Hamazon, one should not repeat the blessing because of the principle of safek berachot lehakel. For other blessings, which are rabbinic obligations, a distinction is made between blessings recited before and after eating.

If someone mentally recited an after-blessing, they should not repeat it aloud. However, if they mentally recited a blessing before eating, they may create a new obligation to recite the blessing by reconsidering their original intention and consciously withdrawing their intention to eat.

In cases of uncertainty, a person may also recite the blessing mentally (Ben Ish Chai, First Year, Vayetze, Section 12).

Daily Quote: The Spiritual Power of "Ein Od Milvado"

"It is truly a great matter and a wondrous spiritual practice to remove and nullify all judgments and opposing forces, so that they cannot exercise control over a person or affect him in any way.

"When a person firmly accepts in his heart the truth that the Lord alone is the true God, that there is no power whatsoever in this world or in any of the worlds besides Him, and that everything is filled with His absolute unity, blessed be His name, he completely nullifies all other powers in his heart.

"He pays no attention to any force or will in the world, but instead directs and attaches the purity of his thoughts exclusively to the one Master, blessed be He.

"Then God will grant that all the forces and opposing wills in the world will automatically lose their power over him and will be unable to affect him in any way."

— Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, Nefesh HaChaim

Understanding the Quote: Finding Strength Through Complete Trust in God

Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, one of the most prominent disciples of the Vilna Gaon, teaches that during times of distress, a person should focus their thoughts on the profound declaration Ein Od Milvado, meaning “There is nothing besides Him.”

This principle expresses the belief that no power exists independently of God and that the entire universe, including all spiritual realms, is sustained by His absolute unity.

According to Rabbi Chaim, when someone facing danger or hardship directs their thoughts entirely toward God and strengthens their awareness that He alone governs all existence, this spiritual connection becomes a powerful source of protection.

What makes this teaching particularly remarkable is that it does not apply exclusively to exceptionally righteous or spiritually elevated individuals. Even an ordinary person who does not generally live on a particularly high spiritual level can benefit from this practice. By concentrating sincerely, even for a brief moment, on the truth of Ein Od Milvado, a person can establish a profound connection with God.

Rabbi Chaim teaches that such sincere devotion, even during a moment of danger, has the spiritual power to protect a person from harm.

The deeper message is that faith is not measured solely by a person's overall spiritual achievements. Sometimes, a single moment of complete awareness of God's presence and absolute sovereignty can carry extraordinary significance.

By turning away from fear of external forces and directing the mind toward the Creator, a person can discover a powerful source of spiritual strength, reassurance, and trust in Divine providence.