The Importance of Drinking along with Eating

The Importance of Drinking along with Eating

The Gemara states, “Aachal v’lo shasa, achilaso dam”, it’s harmful to eat a meal without drinking, and doing so results in stomach problems. The Gemara similarly states elsewhere that dowsing food with liquid prevents intestinal issues. However, the Rambam suggests that one should drink only a little bit during the meal, and one should drink properly—but not too much—after the food begins being digested.

Aside from these health benefits (which are corroborated by contemporary medical science, lehavdil), there is also a halachic reason for drinking during a meal. According to some poskim, the mitzvah d’Oraisa (Biblical commandment) of bentching (reciting Birchas Hamazon after eating) applies only if one ate and drank. Their opinion is based on the following interpretation of the passuk (verse), “V’achaltah, v’savatah, u’veirachtah”: “When you eat and are sated by drink, you should recite Birchas Hamazon.

Although it is not the accepted halachah, those who wish to fulfill the mitzvah d’Oraisa of bentching according to all opinions should make it a point to drink during the meal. Moreover, the halachah is that when choosing an individual to lead the zimun (the quorum of three or more for bentching), it’s preferable to choose someone who ate and drank during the meal. #512

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Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.