When traveling in the summer months it is very common for one to want to
buy mezonos rolls to avoid washing. However, as will be explained below, these
rolls are not mezonos.
The Shulchan Aruch3 says, (based on the opinion of the Rambam),4 if dough is
kneaded with honey, milk or fruit juice, and the fruit juice is recognizable in the
bread, the beracha on the bread is mezonos. The Rama5 disagrees, and says such
juice or spices, in which case the beracha would be mezonos. The Mishnah Berurah,6 as
well as many other poskim, maintain that the fruit juice, etc has to be most of the
mixture, and one has to actually taste it in the bread in order for the beracha to be
a mezonos.7 Others say that although it does not have to be most of the mixture, it
needs to be a lot.8
has mostly fruit juice then one does not need to taste it in the mixture. However,
Torah is only going according to the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch and not the
to specific kinds of juice none of which are currently used in baking. Thus one
following only one part of that opinion while arbitrarily rejecting the other. That
is an amazing feat more probably the province of jugglers and circus performers
than Rabbonim.12
3. 168:7, see Bais Yosef, Bach, Elya Rabbah 14.
4. Hilchos Berochos 3:9.
5. 168:7, see Darchei Moshe 20, Levush 6.
7. Shulchan Aruch Harav 11,Yalkut Yosef 168:12, Chai Moshe page 77.
10. Refer to Mesora 1:pages 32-33.
12. Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita.
2 | HAlAchicAllY SpeAKiNg
Some claim that the aforementioned reasoning can be extended to mezonos
rolls causing their beracha to be a mezonos.13 However such reasoning is fallacious
and causes thousands of people on a daily basis not to wash and bentch properly,14
since the taste of most items with fruit juice is not significantly different than
that of regular bread. Additionally, people eat the roll in order to have the same
experience as eating regular bread. It is strange to say that it can be called cake
and one can avoid washing by eating this mezonos bread,15 especially since one
is being kovea seuda on it.16 Even Sefardim who follow the opinion of the Mechaber17
should wash and bentch in this situation since one cannot tell the difference
between this bread and other breads.18
Additionally, most apple juice is made from concentrate which does not have
the same status as complete fruit juice, since water is added to reconstitute the
juice.19 Accordingly, the rolls from a bakery that use apple juice from concentrate,
are mostly made with water, and one would be required to wash and bentch
according to everyone.20
14. Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita as expressed in Mesora 1:page 35, see ibid pages 29-43 for a detailed discussion on
Gavriel Nesuin 2:26:7:footnote 7, Rivevos Ephraim 1:146:1, 3:109, 8:285:page 164, Chut Shuni Shabbos 1:page
47:footnote 80, Pischei Halacha (Michtavim) 28:pages 278-279 quoting the opinion of Horav Chaim Kanievesky
all situations. The Sdei Chemed bercohos 1:10:page 246 says if bread is made not to be kovea seuda on then one would
always eats the roll as a seuda (Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Mesora 1:page 36). Furthermore, virtually all poskim
16. Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, refer to Magen Avraham 168:13, Shulchan Aruch Harav 8, Mishnah Berurah 24,
20. Refer to Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society Spring 1990:page 39:footnote 19.
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summer halachos | 3
In conclusion, the practice of giving out mezonos rolls on airplanes and at simchas
rolls cannot co-exist.22 This is even if it says on the wrapper that the beracha is
mezonos.
Fortunate are those hechsherim which do not allow bakeries to make mezonos rolls.
and bentching. However, in reality this is not the din and one must wash and bentch.23
Many poskim say that such rolls should only be eaten during a meal where one has
washed on regular bread.24
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