[Avodah] Hilchos Birkat Hamazon

[Cantor Wolberg]

The following is documented:

532. If one steps on bread crumbs (even small (aggregate) amounts of  
less than a kezayis),  
																					                                       it can  
lead to poverty. Therefore, one should be careful to dispose of the  
crumbs by either 																			            wrapping them and then  
discarding them in the garbage, or throwing them into water.
Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 180:4

533. Before beginning Birchas Hamozon one should remove, or cover the  
knives because;
a) Metal (i.e. a knife), which shortens life, should not be left on a  
table which is compared to  
																	                               a Mizbeach (alter),  
which lengthens life (through the offerings brought), and b) It once  
happened 																		              that someone was so overcome  
about the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash upon reaching  
																					"Boneh Yerushalayim" that he grabbed a knife and  
stabbed himself. Therefore Chazal decreed 																			     that  
knives should be removed or covered before bentching.
Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 180:5

My questions are:  Is it credible that stepping on bread crumbs can  
lead to poverty. Symbolically,
you might say that if someone is careless to throw food around and  
lacks respect for it, perhaps
it would indicate that he is the type of person who would not prosper.  
But even THAT is a stretch.

Second halacha above:  I always liked the idea of removing or covering  
knives before Birchas since
it is compared to weapons. However, to give, as an example, a mentally  
disturbed person who
attempted (or committed) suicide with a knife, seems an unnatural  
example. In mental and penal institutions
they don't give knives to the people, but there's an appropriate  
reason for it.

To follow the above logic about this guy who stabbed himself, if there  
was anxiety and concern over it,
they should have banned knives altogether. What's there to prevent an  
emotionally disturbed individual
(as in prison or a mental institution) from stabbing himself (or  
someone else) before the birchas?

ri
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