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>From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis</div>
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<p><strong><strong>Q. After reciting <em>Hamotzi</em>, how much bread should be eaten before conversing?</strong></strong></p>
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<p>A. Ordinarily, after reciting a <em>brocha</em> on food, one may not speak until the
<em>beracha</em> takes affect by swallowing a small bite of food. If one spoke before eating, the
<em>beracha</em> is invalidated because of the <em>hefsek</em> (interruption) and must be repeated. While this is true for all foods, bread has a unique status. The Mishnah Berurah (167:35) writes that
<em>lichatchila</em> (preferably), one should not talk until a <em>kezayis</em> (half the size of an egg) of bread is swallowed. However, if there is a pressing matter, one may converse after swallowing any amount. The Mishnah Berurah writes that if one spoke
while chewing on the bread before swallowing, he is uncertain whether it is a <em>
beracha livatala</em> (a blessing recited in vain) and perhaps the <em>beracha</em> would need to be repeated. Therefore, this should be avoided. However, the Chayei Adam writes that if a person swallowed some of the taste of the bread while chewing (even if
not the actual bread itself), a new <em>beracha</em> is not said. In all cases, one should make an effort to swallow a
<em>kezayis</em> of bread before talking. In the next Halacha Yomis we will discuss why bread is different than other foods.</p>
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