Halacha Infographics: “Thinking Outside of the (Bread)Box?”

BS”D

Hi, everyone! I hope you enjoy these designs I recently created on the marvelous Canva.com, to summarize and illustrate a few selected laws on blessings over baked goods, as well as debunk a few common misconceptions relating to their status, which is a significant factor in determining the blessing recited over them: “Hamozti” or “Mezonos“? That is the question, indeed. I learned these concepts at Teens Talk Torah Online, a project of the Jewish Girls Unite Leadership Institute. The Jewish Law we are currently studying is Seder Birchos Hanehnin, authored by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, providing practical, everyday instruction (specifically in the realm of blessings made over benefit received) for the thinking Jew. Of course, if you ever have a Halachic question or are in doubt, consult a competent, Torah-observant (Orthodox) Rabbi for guidance. Taste the wisdom, G-dliness packed into the mundane of life, and experience the wonder it brings; even savoring a piece of bread over which you’ve recited the proper blessing is a way to think about G-d and welcome Him into your day! How simple, but profound. Such is the beauty of Torah, and maybe I’ll see you online soon to delve into it together! :) Bon Appetit, Bitayavon, and may your every day overflow with blessings!

Hebrew Vocabulary Key:

Al Hamichyo = Hebrew. Literally, “on the sustenance”; the after-blessing made over foods prepared of the five primary grains wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt. Find the text here.
Bentching = Yiddish. Literally, the act of “blessing”; recitation Grace After Meals or an abridged form.
Birkat Hamazon = Hebrew. Literally, “the blessing for the food”; Grace After Meals. Find the text here.
CHaZaL = Hebrew. Acronym for “Chachomim zichronam livrocho – the Sages of blessed memory.”
Hamotzi = Hebrew. The preceding blessing made over bread. Learn more about this blessing, here!
Kezayis = Hebrew. A volume approximately equivalent to that of an olive.
Mezonos = Hebrew. The preceding blessing made over foods prepared of the five primary grains wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt with the exception of actual bread. Learn more about this blessing, here!
Mid’Oraiysa = Hebrew. Literally, “from the Torah”; a term describing a Mitzvah, commandment, of Biblical origin.
Shiyur = Hebrew. A “measure.”
Additionally, though I didn’t mention the term in Hebrew, a volume approximately equivalent to that of an egg is called a “Kebeitza.“

And on ONE FINAL, IMPORTANT NOTE:

Halacha (Jewish law) mandates one must ritually wash their hands prior to eating a meal established over bread, or an amount of another baked-good (made of the five grains) sufficient to make a full-meal; the latter case is the primary focus of my infographics below. Discover how to wash in the proper manner, and how to say the blessing, here!