[Avodah] Al haaretz ve'al michasa ve'al kalkelasa

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

R'SBA asked about
> a visitor - a fine Sefardi Jew who proudly sticks to his
> traditions. After being mechabed him with a coffee and a
> few (Israeli) crackers, he made a brocho achrono - finishing
> it with "al michyasa ve'al kalkalasa".

(More likely that he said "al michyata ve'al kalkalata", or "al michyatha ve'al kalkalatha". :-)

> I checked a Sefardi siddur that I have and indeed that is
> their nusach. So how come we Ashkenazim don't say it? ...
> (He also quotes Tosfos RY Hachosid that also in Birchas
> Hamazon one should say "al haaretz ve'al mezonoseho'.)

In Sefer Eretz Yisroel by Rav Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky, 3:1, who was Ashkenazi, he writes that we do change the bracha for all three versions of Bracha Me'en Shalosh (provided that the fruit, grain, or wine was grown in Eretz Yisroel) - but NOT in Birkas Hamazon.

Those who do not have this sefer can read it on line at http://www.teachittome.com/seforim2/seforim/eretz_yisrael.pdf
Go to page 13 of that PDF to see his exact words, and what he says about the borders of Eretz Yisrael for this halacha.

> The LM suggests an explanation for our minhag - that
> while the Peiros and wines of EY are all of produce
> 'shenishtabcho bohem EY', 'Al Hamichya' (and Birchas
> Hamazon) are said on '5 minei dagan' - which although
> included in 'chita use'orah' - are not mentioned clearly
> in the Torah.

It seems to me that this argument would work for rye and oats, but not for wheat and barley.

And why should "mentioned clearly" be a requirement, as opposed to "mentioned at all"? If "mentioned clearly" is indeed a requirement, I could argue that it would include date honey, but not the dates themselves, which sounds pretty absurd.

> PS: Someone who was at my home mentioned that most of the
> grain used in Israel is imported, which may explain our minhag.

That was the answer I heard when I was in Eretz Yisroel, many years ago. But I can't imagine why this argument would apply only to Ashkenazim. By what logic would a Sefardi say "michyata" on grain from Chu"l? I can't help but fear that your visitor was misinformed, and that even Sefaradim change the bracha ONLY when they KNOW the grain to have been grown in Eretz Yisroel. (Then again, maybe he did know that particular brand of crackers to be made from Israeli grain.)

Akiva Miller