The Silent Hefsek
When performing a mitzvah associated with a brachah, or making a brachah for food or hana’ah (pleasure, e.g. sniffing roses), we may not make a hefsek (interruption) between the brachah and the mitzvah or action.
Halachah speaks of two types of hefsek: a hefsek b’dibbur (verbal interruption) and a hefsek b’shtikah (the silent pause). The halachic interpretation of hefsek b’shtikah is pausing for an interval of time called toch k’dei dibbur (the span of a short salutation, specifically, “Shalom alecha Rebbi!”—Greetings to you, Rabbi).
While both of these interruptions are prohibited, b’dieved (after the fact), only when a person makes a hefsek b’dibbur must the brachah be repeated.
It should be noted, that the gap in performance is not considered a hefsek, l’chatchilah (at the outset), if it facilitates the performance of the mitzvah or action (for example, waiting for the salt-cellar to be passed to the head of the table for hamotzie).
A hefsek b’shtikah is also forbidden during some transitions in tefillah (prayer), such as between the brachah of Go’al Yisroel and the beginning of the Amidah (Shemoneh Esreh). Other lengthy silent interruptions during tefillah may require a person to repeat parts of davening. Nevertheless, after saying the brachah of Ahavas Olam (Ahava Rabbah), ending with “habocher b’amo Yisroel b’ahava,” we are permitted to pause momentarily and contemplate Hashem’s oneness while waiting for the chazzan and congregation to recite “Shema Yisroel
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