Should One Recite a Blessing on Drinking Water During a Meal?

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Laws of Breaking Bread, Meals, and Grace After Meals, Section 174 

 

Paragraph 7

If one has no wine and drinks water or another beverage, one does not recite a blessing on them as they are considered as coming because of the meal since it is uncommon to eat without drinking; and even wine would not require a blessing beforehand, except because it is significant enough to warrant its own blessing; however, water or other beverages are not significant and do not require a blessing. Even if one was thirsty before the meal, since he did not wish to drink then to avoid the water causing harm, it turns out that the drinking of the water is associated with the bread, and the bread exempts them. Some maintain that one should bless the water consumed during the meal, and others are stringent and bless upon them every time, as it is generally accepted that one reconsiders each time; and those who wish to distance themselves from doubt should sit before washing their hands in their meal place and bless with the intent to drink during their meal. The custom follows the first opinion. 

 

This is also brought in Yalkut Yosef, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Section 174 - The Law of the Blessing on Wine and Water during a Meal 

 

5. One who drinks water or other beverages during the meal, does not have to bless over them as they are considered as coming because of the meal since it is uncommon to eat without drinking. And even if he was thirsty before the meal, this is not comparable to drinking wine during the meal (and did not bless it before the meal) which one blesses over the vine, for only with wine because of its importance is a blessing required even during the meal. A God-fearing person who wishes to distance himself from doubt should sit before the meal in his designated meal place, and bless the 'Shehakol' on the water before the meal, intending to drink during the meal to exempt what he will drink during the meal. However, if he is not thirsty to drink, he should not bless 'Shehakol' over the water, since one who drinks water without thirst does not bless, even if he wants to bless to exempt the water he will drink during the meal. Therefore, when he is not thirsty to drink, he should bless 'Shehakol' over other light beverages which provide enjoyment in drinking, or on sugar and gum or other types of sweets. Nevertheless, all this is to fulfill the obligation according to all opinions and from the perspective of piety; however, it is not the primary halacha, as it is already customary to drink water during a meal without a blessing. [Rashba. Yalkut Yosef, Laws of Grace After Meals and Blessings, page 183. Halichot Olam, Volume 1, page 50]. 

 

7. Those who are accustomed to be stringent and drink water before the meal, to exempt what they will drink during the meal, it is advisable that they not drink a volume of a revit (approximately 3.1 ounces) all at once, to avoid entering a doubt regarding the final blessing. If they drank a revit, some say they should not bless the final blessing, as Grace After Meals exempts even the final blessing on what was drunk before the meal. There are those who disagree, and as a matter of law, when in doubt regarding blessings, one should be lenient; however, he who wishes to bless has the permission to do so, due to the principle of safek sefeika (double doubt), as what we do not employ the safek sefeika in blessings is from the outset, but one who wishes to bless and rely on the safek sefeika has something on which to rely. Provided, he does not intend to drink more during the meal, but if he does intend to drink more during the meal, he may not bless the final blessing on the water he drank before the meal. 

 

Blessings,

Benjamin Shmueli